by jpitney | Jul 1, 2021 | Congress, Coronavirus, Deliberation, House of Representatives
Don Wolfsenberger at The Hill: Just before adjournment on Monday, the House Clerk read a letter from the Sergeant-at-Arms declaring, after consultation with the Attending Physician, that the pandemic health emergency remains in effect, thereby extending to mid-August...
by jpitney | Nov 12, 2020 | House of Representatives, Technology
Maggie Miller at The Hill: A new report prepared by staff on the Democratic-led House Administration Committee has concluded that technology exists for members of Congress to securely vote remotely during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. ...
by jpitney | Aug 27, 2020 | Congress, Coronavirus, Debate, Deliberation, House of Representatives
Susan Ferrechio at The Washington Examiner: New House rules permitting lawmakers to vote both by proxy and remotely, without ever coming to the Capitol, were intended to allow Congress to function more safely during the coronavirus outbreak. But some lawmakers have...
by jpitney | May 2, 2020 | Congress, Senate
Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) , Dick Durbin (D-IL) and security expert Jason Matheny at the New York Times: An essential part of the Senate’s constitutional function, no matter the circumstances, is for senators to cast votes on legislation. We propose allowing remote...
by jpitney | Apr 10, 2020 | Congress, Coronavirus, Technology
From the House Rules Committee: The constitutionality of remote voting is an untested principle. As a threshold question, this uncertainty should give the House pause from transitioning wholesale to any remote voting or “virtual presence” scheme of conducting...