NEWSWEEK – House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is canceling the week’s voting agenda after several Republicans joined Democrats in a vote to change the rules to allow new parents in Congress to vote by proxy.
The announcement came after nine Republicans joined all Democrats in a 206-222 vote against Johnson’s attempt to block plans that would allow lawmakers who become parents to vote remotely for up to three months. Johnson told reporters it was a “very disappointing result” and means “we can’t have any further action on the floor this week.”
Why It Matters
The GOP rebellion, led by Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, was Johnson’s biggest legislative blow of the year so far. The backlash adds pressure on the House speaker, who is already trying to pass bills with the GOP’s thin majority while facing criticism from hardline Republican lawmakers.
