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U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga joins lawsuit challenging constitutionality of proxy voting

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United States Representative Bill Huizenga Wednesday announced he is joining other Republican lawmakers in a lawsuit that questions whether proxy voting is constitutional.

The lawsuit is in direct response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the Democrat Majority adopting a resolution that authorizes proxy voting on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

Proxy voting is a form of voting where a member of congress will have a fellow lawmaker cast their vote for them in their absence.

Democrats argue, it’s necessary during the coronavirus pandemic as a way of allowing legislators to practice social distancing and without having to vote in person.

Republicans argue that it is unconstitutional--including United States Representative Bill Huizenga, who represents Michigan’s 2nd District. He says, not only is it unconstitutional, but would be unprecedented in the history of Congress.

“In the 231 years of the House of Representatives operating, this has never been done, so why they are trying to do this in a partisan manner, with out any input from the minority about how we could possibly make this work without violating the constitution is just baffling to me,” Huizenga said. “So, it warrants a legal challenge.”

House Republicans have tapped leading conservative attorney Chuck Cooper to handle a lawsuit challenging the U.S. House of Representatives’ new rules on proxy voting.

The complaint cites other examples where the House has not invoked proxy voting, including after the 9/11 terror attacks and the influenza pandemic of 1918.

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