House Republican leaders have sued to stop a remote voting rule change set to be used in the House for the first time this week, a move that underscores the continuing divide between the two parties over whether it’s safe to return to work amid the coronavirus pandemic. The decision to move ahead with a lawsuit comes as Republicans have questioned the constitutionality of the rules change, while Democrats have defended it. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy filed suit Tuesday against the change along with other Republican lawmakers and constituents from several different states. House Republicans will argue that each individual member will have their vote unconstitutionally diluted by the proxy vote rules change and that constituents will have their representation in Congress diluted by the rules change, according to a GOP leadership aide. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the move in a statement on Tuesday, calling it a “sad stunt.” “House Republicans’ sad stunt shows that their only focus is to delay and obstruct urgently-needed action to meet the needs of American workers and families during the coronavirus crisis,” she said. “The House’s position that remote voting by proxy during a pandemic is fully consistent with the Constitution is supported by expert legal analyses. Further, the Supreme Court made clear over a century ago that the Constitution empowers each chamber of Congress to set its own procedural rules,” Pelosi said.
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