House Republicans plan to sue to block new rules allowing voting by proxy
WASHINGTON — House Republicans planned to file a lawsuit later Tuesday against Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to block the chamber’s new system of voting by proxy during the coronavirus pandemic, according to House GOP leadership aides.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., will lead the suit against Pelosi in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., aides said Tuesday.
Twenty GOP lawmakers, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, as well as four constituents from different states have also signed onto the lawsuit against Pelosi, the House clerk and the Sergeant at Arms, who are tasked with implementing the new rules.
No Republicans voted in support of rules changes passed by the House in mid-May that will allow lawmakers to cast votes by proxy during the pandemic, and leaders had signaled a possible lawsuit.
The Democratic-controlled House is expected to deploy the new proceedings for the first time Wednesday. The new rules allow the House speaker to initiate remote operations for 45 days if nonpartisan officials have declared a public-health emergency. Pelosi activated the remote proceedings last Wednesday.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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