Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) is the latest Democrat to find herself in hot water over proxy voting.
Once again, the order by House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) to extend proxy voting is being abused.
After signing a form saying that she needed to use her proxy due to COVID, Axne was stupid enough to post vacation pictures from France.
Now she is being called out on it by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT).
Complaint Filed
FACT has filed an official complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).
The organization is asking for an immediate investigation into a false statement being filed with the Clerk of the House by Axne.
On August 12, when the vote was taken for the Inflation Reduction Act, Axne allowed Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) to cast her proxy vote.
In all, 187 members of Congress voted by proxy that day, a staggering number considering the pandemic, according to Joe Biden, is over.
Axne, in her proxy vote filing, claimed she was “unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency.”
In reality, she was on a planned family vacation in France.
Since the proxy vote is only permissible due to COVID-related reasons, she violated the ethics rules of the House.
FACT stated, “If that is not the reason for the proxy vote, then the Member is making a false statement to the House Clerk.”
FACT’s Executive Director, Kendra Arnold, stated, “This is a clear case where Rep. Axne blatantly made a false statement to the House Clerk, and by extension to the American people.
“There is no ambiguity here—she admitted it on television after she was caught.
“Obviously, this willful abuse of the proxy system is very troubling and yet another example of politicians not even being able to follow the simple rules they themselves put forth.”
Numerous members of Congress have abused this rule on both sides of the aisle.
For instance, AOC used the proxy to campaign for other Democrats.
I believe Rep. Boebert (R-CO) is atop the list of Republicans that have used the proxy vote, and she surely is not worried about COVID.
The only legitimate reason to use proxy voting at this point would be if a member of Congress actually had COVID.
Other than that, this rule should be ended.
Source: Breitbart
