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Republicans Cast Doubt on Future of House Bills Passed by Proxy

Glitch

Glitch

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Republicans Cast Doubt on Future of House Bills Passed by Proxy

Republicans warned on Wednesday that legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives during the coronavirus pandemic may not become law if lawmakers are allowed to cast votes remotely under a new voting system.

A day after filing a federal lawsuit to overturn rules allowing proxy voting, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said any bills approved under the new system may be unconstitutional and could be ignored by the Republican-led U.S. Senate.
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The US Constitution requires a majority of each house to be physically present before business can be conducted. Furthermore, those who are not in attendance can be compelled to physically appear in order to constitute a quorum. According to the Article I, Section 5, Clause 1 of the US Constitution:

Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.
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Which makes the proxy votes by Speaker Pelosi unconstitutional and every bill passed by a proxy vote is automatically dead before it even reaches the Senate.
 
You were also able to beat the ever-living **** out of each other and slaves inCongressional hall so maybe we shouldn't worry about what the Founding Fathers would think about Congress voting via Zoom.
 
It was also written when the populations all lived in maybe 5-10% of the land America reaches out to now. It would be cheaper, safer, and more practical to vote by proxy.
 
Your quote says nothing about being physically present. In many businesses and government, "attending" something remotely is still "attending" it. So I can easily imagine such reasonable interpretation to be upheld by courts, if necessary.
 
CMPancake said:
It was also written when the populations all lived in maybe 5-10% of the land America reaches out to now. It would be cheaper, safer, and more practical to vote by proxy.
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Wow, how stupid a message can you post?

Voting by proxy would have been infinitely cheaper, safer and more practical to vote by proxy back then. They had to travel by carriage thru every kind of weather for days - even thru Indian territory - to vote in person. Later, they would have to travel for DAYS by train - each way - getting to the train by carriage or horse first.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, in the Constitution allowed a member of the House to cast more than 1 vote.
 
So... Pelosi can either follow the law, or she can try to change it.
 
Taylor said:
So... Pelosi can either follow the law, or she can try to change it.
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Yes that's how laws work. That's why they created a whole ass process to add and remove laws whenever the need arose. Jesus Christ, Civics class is money wasted in America.
 
Slavister said:
Your quote says nothing about being physically present. In many businesses and government, "attending" something remotely is still "attending" it. So I can easily imagine such reasonable interpretation to be upheld by courts, if necessary.
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That's NOT The topic. The topic is proxy voting - authorizing others to vote for you. This has NEVER been allowed. In fact, it is very common for more routine votes for opposing sides to trade off non-attendance. One Yea vote will trade off with one Nay vote so not to affect the outcome.

This is just Pelosi trying to become Queen Pelosi - forcing Democrats in the House to give her their proxy or they can kiss of any good committee appointments by her. In my opinion, both the head of the House and Senate are way, way, way too powerful already.
 
**** the GOP — just another Trumpocalyse Distraction Suckage — these are the same assholes who infected hundreds of Wisconsin voters on purpose. They’ve already declared civil war folks, in every way, including killing minorities in cities with covid.
 
Slavister said:
Your quote says nothing about being physically present. In many businesses and government, "attending" something remotely is still "attending" it. So I can easily imagine such reasonable interpretation to be upheld by courts, if necessary.
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Well I think one issue may be this

McCarthy spoke hours before the first-ever proxy vote, allowing some lawmakers to vote on behalf of colleagues who are absent. The Democratic majority, which approved proxy voting on May 15 in a party-line vote, says the change will allow the House to function while observing social distancing guidelines.
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It's not like they WebEx or Zoom in to vote, but it seems rather it allowed other lawmakers to vote on the behalf of the absent.

It's likely true that rules and law may need to be updated to include some of the new tech we have. Particularly in a pandemic, I don't think it would be too much to say that they can network in, be there online, and vote for themselves. But it seems this would require that the current laws be updated.
 
Linc said:
**** the GOP — just another Trumpocalyse Distraction Suckage — these are the same assholes who infected hundreds of Wisconsin voters on purpose. They’ve already declared civil war folks, in every way, including killing minorities in cities with covid.
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What a big lie. The GOP deliberately infected no one. Who did that - thousands DEAD from it - was the Democratic governors of NY, NJ and California ordering that nursing homes with poor elderly people MUST accept infected people over the management's object - killing THOUSANDS - minimally.

Don't pretend you give a damn about covid-19 - or link to your post ranting about the protesters and rioters violating stay-home orders. Hell, you can't even criticize them for arson, looting and beating defenseless old people.

NOT ONE progressive on this forum can bring themselves to criticize the protesters/looters for violating stay home, wear masks and social distancing orders. That's because they all know all this about covid-19 is a lie. Rather, they believe that by devastating the economy the harm Trump. There's nothing more to it.
 
Slavister said:
Your quote says nothing about being physically present. In many businesses and government, "attending" something remotely is still "attending" it. So I can easily imagine such reasonable interpretation to be upheld by courts, if necessary.
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The Supreme Court already answered that question in United States v. Ballin, 144 U.S. 1 (1892)

The Constitution provides that "a majority of each [house] shall constitute a quorum to do business." In other words, when a majority are present the house in a position to do business. Its capacity to transact business is then established, created by the mere presence of a majority, and does not depend upon the disposition or assent or action of any single member or fraction of the majority present. All that the Constitution requires is the presence of a majority, and when that majority are present, the power of the house arises.
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There must be a majority physically present in order to constitute a quorum. Proxy votes in either house of Congress is a violation of the US Constitution.
 
CMPancake said:
Yes that's how laws work. That's why they created a whole ass process to add and remove laws whenever the need arose. Jesus Christ, Civics class is money wasted in America.
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Indeed. You would think Pelosi would know this.
 
Taylor said:
So... Pelosi can either follow the law, or she can try to change it.
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It requires two-thirds of Congress and 38 States to change the US Constitution. She is compelled by her own oath of office to comply with the US Constitution. She should face impeachment for her blatant disregard for the US Constitution and abuse of power.
 
Glitch said:
It requires two-thirds of Congress and 38 States to change the US Constitution. She is compelled by her own oath of office to comply with the US Constitution. She should face impeachment for her blatant disregard for the US Constitution and abuse of power.
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Let me know if it happens... I'll be sure to wear black. :lol:
 
Repukkkes cast ZERO doubt on wanting a civil war within and between the 50 states. They want NO elections, Martial Law, and kill as many Democrats as they can with Covid.

GOPutins prefer KKKonfederate Nazi militia cucksters in full riot gear and weapons of war threatening law enforcement officials, as well as spitting in the faces of LEOs without a mask.

**** the GOPricks, **** Traitor Trump
 
Looks like we're gonna need to dissolve congress, huh, Trumpers?
 
ecofarm said:
Looks like we're gonna need to dissolve congress, huh, Trumpers?
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Think again. Members of Congress can be forced, at gun-point if necessary, to attend Congress in person in order to form a quorum. That is also included within the US Constitution, you might want to read it some day.
 
Glitch said:
Think again. Members of Congress can be forced, at gun-point if necessary, to attend Congress in person in order to form a quorum. That is also included within the US Constitution, you might want to read it some day.
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But they gotta wear masks. Everyone, congress and the people with guns forcing them, right?
 
Linc said:
Repukkkes cast ZERO doubt on wanting a civil war within and between the 50 states. They want NO elections, Martial Law, and kill as many Democrats as they can with Covid.

GOPutins prefer KKKonfederate Nazi militia cucksters in full riot gear and weapons of war threatening law enforcement officials, as well as spitting in the faces of LEOs without a mask.

**** the GOPricks, **** Traitor Trump
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You mad?
 
joko104 said:
That's NOT The topic. The topic is proxy voting - authorizing others to vote for you. This has NEVER been allowed. In fact, it is very common for more routine votes for opposing sides to trade off non-attendance. One Yea vote will trade off with one Nay vote so not to affect the outcome.

This is just Pelosi trying to become Queen Pelosi - forcing Democrats in the House to give her their proxy or they can kiss of any good committee appointments by her. In my opinion, both the head of the House and Senate are way, way, way too powerful already.
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Wait... they let some members vote more than once? What in the world?
 
Taylor said:
Indeed. You would think Pelosi would know this.
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That's why Pelosi is trying to pass this legislation into law. You would also know this if you spent more time actually learning about the USC.
 
Glitch said:
Think again. Members of Congress can be forced, at gun-point if necessary, to attend Congress in person in order to form a quorum. That is also included within the US Constitution, you might want to read it some day.
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Are there unicorns guarding the doors to congress in your fantasy world?


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CMPancake said:
That's why Pelosi is trying to pass this legislation into law. You would also know this if you spent more time actually learning about the USC.
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If you had any idea how the house worked you wouldn’t be making such an uninformed comment. LMAO..


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BlueTex said:
If you had any idea how the house worked you wouldn’t be making such an uninformed comment. LMAO..


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Oh am I missing something where Congress suddenly lost the ability to write and pass legislation to be voted upon by the Senate? 2020 has been a bit of a wild year.
 
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