Representative Kai Kahele (a Hawaiian Airlines pilot and a Hawaii congressman) has used proxy votes to vote on only five of the 125 roll calls this year. Three of his Democratic counterparts have used proxy votes on every vote.
They are among 303 legislators from both parties, more than two-thirds in the House, who have cast proxy votes at least once this calendar year according to records compiled by the Associated Press that show how partisan divisions have been mediated over voting from elsewhere.
The AP numbers show that 191 Democrats (nearly 9-in-10) and 112 Republicans (just over half) have used proxy votes cast by their colleagues in the chamber this year. Although Democrats used proxy votes heavily in the past, only a few Republicans did it in 2020, which was the year that the procedure was initiated.
54 House Republicans have voted remotely this year. They had also signed up for a 2020 lawsuit, which stated it was “simply impossible to ignore” the Constitution’s requirement that legislators vote in person.
The GOP filing stated that Congress has never before “flinched from his constitutional duty to assemble in the Nation’s Capitol and conduct the peoples’ business during times of national peril or crisis.” It cited the War of 1812 torching of Capitol, the Civil War and the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. It has been this way for over two centuries. Until now.”
After the case had been dismissed by lower courts, the Supreme Court declined to hear it in January.
The lawsuit was filed by 160 House Republicans, led by Kevin McCarthy of California. McCarthy told his colleagues later that they shouldn’t vote remotely and that they shouldn’t be plaintiffs. Chip Roy, Texas was the only one remaining on the suit.
His congressional website states that Democrat Kahele is “an active commercial airline flight pilot with Hawaiian Airlines,” and that he travels domestically as well as internationally on Airbus A330 widebody aircraft.
However, his aides stated that Kahele had logged three flights this year. He submitted the required letters attesting that he was “unable physically” to vote at Capitol, just like everyone who votes by proxy. He mentioned “the ongoing public emergency”.
Kahele, 48 years old, is concerned about the safety and health of his family and communities. He lives with them in a multigenerational home because of the COVID-19 threat. Kahele, a freshman, expressed an interest in running for governor. He has reduced his travel to Washington but has not missed a single vote. He also “maximizes his time home” by visiting constituents.
The House approved proxy voting . This was a close vote of the party line in May 2020. It came as the deadly COVID-19 virus started causing havoc all over the world. Democrats referred to the move as a way to keep Congress safe, while Republicans viewed it as abandonment of its work.
According to data from the Brookings Institution, 175 Democrats and seven Republicans used it that first year. While GOP participation has increased, Democrats still use proxies more frequently.
The AP figures show that Republicans have voted proxy 19 times out of the 125 House roll call votes so far this year. Democrats average 28 votes per party.
McCarthy repeatedly stated that he would like to see proxy voting end if Republicans win the House majority. She also said it was time for legislators to “show up to work.” Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently extended the process until May 14.
Proxy voting has not been adopted by the 100-member Senate, which is smaller than the House.
This procedure has helped Speaker Pelosi (D-Calif.) manage her party’s narrow majority and made it less likely that Democrats will lose votes. Pelosi described the GOP’s failure to file a lawsuit as a “sad stunt” which threatened to “recklessly threaten the health of colleagues and congressional workers.”
Louie Gohmert (Republican from Texas), is running for the office of state attorney general. He has cast 61 proxy ballots this year, which is more than any Republican who joined McCarthy’s lawsuit. Aides did not return messages seeking comment.
The reasons that lawmakers use the process are also changing. It was originally created to lower the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) cast proxy votes while he was on paternity leave following the birth of his second child, Spring 2021. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), voted from his home following emergency eye surgery.
D-WIs. Rep. Ron Kind attended the June 2021 campaign event in his State with President Joe Biden. No. Elise Stefanik, 3 House GOP leader from New York, was present at a Florida fundraising event in January with former President Donald Trump.
Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democratic Representative, was one of several Democrats who participated in a racial justice demonstration held in her state in April 2021. She also voted by proxy. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), was part of a group that included hard-right lawmakers and voted via proxy at a conservative conference in Florida.
Cawthorn criticised proxy voting in July 2020. He tweeted, “Leaders Show Up No Matter How Uncertain the Times Are.” For hiding and failing to show up for work, the Democrats are cowards.
According to the AP count, Cawthorn voted 57 times this year by proxy. Brookings reports that he voted 69 times in 2021. This was his first year in Congress. A aide refused to answer questions.
Three Democrats used proxy votes for every 2022 election: Lucille Roybal Alard of California, Albio Sires from New Jersey and Rep. Al Lawson in Florida.
A statement from an aide stated that Roybal-Allard’s husband, who is now almost 77 years old, is suffering from immunocompromised. According to the statement, the 80-year-old congresswoman was at her Washington office this month, but she did not vote in the House chamber due to the House’s recent omicron surge.
Spokesperson Erica Daughtrey stated that Sires, at 71, is staying in New Jersey due to health concerns, including his wife’s recent surgery, his age and his own knee replacement.
Lawson aides did not return messages seeking comment.
Roybal-Allard, Sires and others are not running for reelection in November. Florida GOP Gov. has redrawn Lawson’s district. Ron DeSantis was redrawn Lawson’s district by the Florida GOP Gov.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) has received the most proxy votes this year with 77. She stated that she is her only child and primary caretaker for her mother, a 86-year old woman, in a statement.
Salazar saod: “I don’t know how much time I have left with her,”
Kahele is a pilot and lawmaker who serves as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over airline issues. He co-sponsored the bipartisan Fair and Open Skies Act which would limit foreign airlines’ ability to fly in the U.S.
Kahele’s office sent an email exchange to his aides in which House Ethics Committee staff advised them that outside employment is allowed provided it doesn’t interfere with his congressional duties or his income exceeds the outside income limit.
According to email exchanges, Kahele was told he could vote on issues for which he didn’t have any “direct personal or financial interest.”
When Kahele was asked about his qualifications to serve on a committee that reviews airline policy, his aides responded by sending a statement. They cited his experiences as a commercial and military pilot and his support for the rights of all aviation workers.
His office stated that Kahele earned $2,862 for three flights of approximately 14 hours this year. His office stated that he earned $29152 last year for his first Congressmanship, which was when the income limit was $29595.
Before he was elected, his financial disclosure report for 2020 shows that he earned $119685 from Hawaiian Airlines. His spouse earned $22,552 as a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines. They reported Hawaiian Airlines 401k accounts valued from $365,000 up to $800,000.
The Honolulu Civil Beat is a non-profit news organization that first reported in detail about Kahele’s vote and his job as an airline pilot.
Recent extension of proxy voting by Pelosi to May 14th was made by Pelosi.