House Local Government Committee approves proxy voting for members

The House Local Government Committee voted by voice to allow committee members to cast votes by proxy, the panel’s chair announced after a motion by Vice Chair Courtney Springer.

"Mister chair, I move that we approve proxies for use in this committee," Springer said during the committee’s orientation segment. The chair called for a voice vote; members responded "aye" and the chair declared the motion passed.

Committee staff Tony Henneman explained that House rules give committees discretion to authorize proxies and that, if the committee approves proxy voting, each party typically decides how to hold and assign proxies. He said some committees ask vice chairs to hold proxies; others allow members to entrust them to colleagues who will vote on their behalf.

Vice Chair Springer and Vice Chair Ed Staffman each said they would accept and manage proxies for their caucuses; Springer asked members who wanted a proxy to provide written direction for specific votes when appropriate. The committee also briefed members on practical rules for amendments and asked that members give staff 24 hours’ notice when possible for requested amendments so edits and printings can be completed.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally for the proxy authorization; the chair declared the motion adopted by voice vote. Members were reminded to file any proxy forms before leaving the meeting.