GOP Reps Speaking At CPAC Requested Proxy Votes In House Today Over “Ongoing Public Health Emergency”

CNN reports:

Several of former President Donald Trump’s closest Republican allies in the House have skipped Friday’s votes and enlisted their colleagues to vote on their behalf, signing letters saying they can’t attend “due to the ongoing public health emergency.” But those members are actually expected to be in Orlando and listed as speakers at CPAC.

The members include Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who addressed the conference on Friday — as well as some of Trump’s staunchest defenders who are listed as speakers, like Reps. Paul Gosar of Arizona, Jim Banks of Indiana, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina and Ted Budd of North Carolina. CNN has reached out to those offices for comment.

Read the full article.

NEW: Several Republicans tell House they can’t attend votes due to ‘public health emergency.’ They’re slated to be at CPAC.https://t.co/4NnxFDuI8v

— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) February 26, 2021

Here’s a proxy letter of absence from House votes “due to the ongoing public health emergency” signed by Matt Gaetz, who just spoke at CPAC. pic.twitter.com/joYLqSeqnI

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 26, 2021

Some House R’s who plan to vote by proxy today, who are scheduled to speak at CPAC in Orlando:

Rep. Ted Budd, R-NC
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-NC
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL
Rep. Greg Steube, R-FL

(Gaetz was an early GOP adopter of the system, but most R’s opposed it initially.)

— Ben Siegel (@bensiegel) February 26, 2021

Last year Madison Cawthorn said Dems who used pandemic proxy voting were “cowards for hiding and not showing up to work.”

He just filed with the House Clerk to proxy vote as the relief bill comes up “due to the ongoing public health emergency.”

He’s in Orlando speaking at CPAC pic.twitter.com/NEUr7cSHSf

— Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) February 26, 2021

The letters say: “I am unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency.”
The House has had several votes on Friday and is scheduled to take up the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill in the evening

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 26, 2021

Republicans are using a process they criticized and sued over — and now misusing it by saying they can’t attend votes because of the pandemic, but are actually speaking at a political conference. https://t.co/mKHI2X00fu

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 26, 2021