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House Adopts Vote Pairing to Resolve Proxy Voting Standoff

Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna formalize a historic vote pairing system to address absences for new parents and emergencies, ending a week-long legislative paralysis.

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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., speaks during a hearing of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) looks on during a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on April 01, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna greets Rep. Brittany Pettersen and her infant son, Sam, outside the Capitol on March 31, 2025.

Overview

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna reached an agreement to implement a vote pairing system, replacing the push for proxy voting for new parents.
  • The vote pairing process allows an absent lawmaker’s vote to be offset by a present member voting oppositely, preserving in-person voting norms.
  • This resolution will apply to lawmakers unable to be present due to new parenthood, bereavement, emergencies, or similar circumstances.
  • The standoff over proxy voting paralyzed House operations last week, delaying key legislative actions, including the budget resolution.
  • While the agreement resolves the immediate conflict, Democrats and some Republicans criticize it as insufficient and vow to continue advocating for broader modernization of voting rules.