Congress is an inherently collaborative institution, and elected leaders are most effective when they can deliberate face-to-face. Democrats’ permanent pandemic polices increase partisanship, reduce efficiency, and keep Congress from best serving the American people.
In Case You Missed It via The Hill, Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx lambasts Democrats for instituting proxy voting and remote proceedings.
It’s no secret that Congress’ approval rating is in the gutter. A recent Gallup poll revealed that only 20 percent of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job while 75 percent disapproved. With the way Democrats have been running things, I’m surprised it isn’t zero.
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Remote hearings have done more to create an echo chamber and promote partisanship than any other congressional rule. One could argue that in-person collaboration has become relic of a bygone era.
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Committee work weeks compete against district work periods making it incredibly difficult for members to fulfil one of their most important duties—representation.… We should respect the committee process so we can do the jobs our constituents entrusted us to uphold.
Which brings me to one of the worst House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) inventions—proxy voting.
What is more asinine than a member using proxy voting to vote present? That would be Democrats holding a hearing to celebrate proxy voting.
Congress is still leaning on proxy voting like a crutch when it should be eradicated entirely.
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And yet today many members of Congress are still refusing to show up for work. This is unacceptable.
We’d better get our act together if we’re to truly govern and deliver for the citizens we represent. If we don’t, then truancy might as well be considered Congress’ forte from here on out. That’s not an accolade that anyone can hang their hat on with pride.
Read the full op-ed here.
Original source can be found here
