Legless, Pregnant Rep. Denied Proxy Vote by Democrats

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Maybe they knew who she was going to cote for and didn't like it?

Regardless of how "they" felt about her vote, the rules prohibited it. I think that it's a rule the could use re-examination, but both parties have it, and there's no evidence that it's being enforced with any malice or hidden motivations.

[Luziyca]

Sensationalist media making a mountain out of a molehill.

News at 11.

Indeed.

[United Marxist Nations]

Pretty sure the Americans with Disabilities Act would require them to allow her to vote on account of medical reasons.

A caucus or congress for that matter is not a Covered entity for the purposes of the ADA.

I'm pretty sure it qualifies as a public service or organization, and an employer.

[Kiribati-Tarawa]

That's pretty bad and really shows how hypocritical Democrats can be.

[Novaya Equestria]

Those Democracts must be kicked out.

[Risottia]

Tammy Duckworth is a representative, not a senator. Proxy voting is against the caucus rules. If they gave a proxy vote to her, why wouldn't they then have to give proxy votes to anyone else?

Basically this.
If you make up exceptions to rules on the spot, you're not setting a good precedent.

[Risottia]

A caucus or congress for that matter is not a Covered entity for the purposes of the ADA.

I'm pretty sure it qualifies as a public service or organization, and an employer.

But a representative in a caucus wouldn't be an employee.

[AiliailiA]

It is quite common for doctors to advise their patients against air travel in the late stages of pregnancy.

As G&D points out, there aren't that many examples of pregnant Representatives. They're predominantly male, and the female Reps usually had their kids before being first elected, or were past childbearing age when first elected.

But being pregnant isn't the only health condition which makes air travel a health risk. The very same fact, that Representatives tend to be old and male, leads to the conclusion that hundreds of Representatives in any given Congress would have medical advice that they not get on an airplane at some time during their term. Medical advice and medical conditions being confidential, allowing this precedent ("my doctor has advised me not to fly") would be tantamount to abolishing the rule against proxy voting.

I'll also point out that the Congresswoman could have attended the vote without getting on a plane. Illinois isn't that far from Washington, she could have taken a train.

[AiliailiA]

A caucus or congress for that matter is not a Covered entity for the purposes of the ADA.

I'm pretty sure it qualifies as a public service or organization, and an employer.

I think G&D is right actually. I think Congress itself is exempt.

I tried to find a source for this opinion but I got distracted by ...

TRANSVESTITES

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "disabled" or "disability" shall not apply to an individual solely because that individual is a transvestite.

Well isn't that quaint.

[Olthar]

Sure, the left is about equality and women's rights. Your problem is believing that the Democratic party is left.

[Gravlen]

No, it doesn't. Rule 4 (a)

I, for one, await the OP's scathing criticism of '"evil, woman-hating, racist Republicans"' with baited breath.

ETA: Alas, the OP is busy telling me by telegram to go fuck myself. Which I suppose I'll have to, because fucked if I can ever remember where the GHR button is.

http://www.nationstates.net/page=help

As for the topic:

proxy voting is explicitly against caucus rules

No real scandal here.

[Ifreann]

That's pretty bad and really shows how hypocritical Democrats can be.

Have the Democrats ever previously stated that proxy voting should be allowed in these situations?

---

I'm pretty sure it qualifies as a public service or organization, and an employer.

I think G&D is right actually. I think Congress itself is exempt.

I tried to find a source for this opinion but I got distracted by ...

TRANSVESTITES

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "disabled" or "disability" shall not apply to an individual solely because that individual is a transvestite.

Well isn't that quaint.

A fondness for a nice dress never kept Hoover from doing his job.

---

I, for one, await the OP's scathing criticism of '"evil, woman-hating, racist Republicans"' with baited breath.

ETA: Alas, the OP is busy telling me by telegram to go fuck myself. Which I suppose I'll have to, because fucked if I can ever remember where the GHR button is.

http://www.nationstates.net/page=help

Cheers.

As for the topic:

proxy voting is explicitly against caucus rules

No real scandal here.

But Gravlen, the Democrats! Woman! Legs! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargarbl!

[Sdaeriji]

But Gravlen, the Democrats! Woman! Legs! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargarbl!

Don't forget Obama.

[Ifreann]

But Gravlen, the Democrats! Woman! Legs! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargarbl!

Don't forget Obama.

He's the worst of all!

[Ashmoria]

Tammy Duckworth is a representative, not a senator. Proxy voting is against the caucus rules. If they gave a proxy vote to her, why wouldn't they then have to give proxy votes to anyone else?

Is that real? It seems a strange rule.

this is Washington we are talking about. what is worse, denying a vote (that wont change anything) to a member who has a good reason or open the floodgates to members who will demand a vote for any stupid reason?

if her vote was needed they would have found a way to get her to vote.

[Gravlen]

As for the topic:

proxy voting is explicitly against caucus rules

No real scandal here.

But Gravlen, the Democrats! Woman! Legs! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargarbl!

It's a conspiracy first set out in the emails the IRS sent from Benghazi, when Obama was born in Kenya as a communist muslim.

[Ifreann]

But Gravlen, the Democrats! Woman! Legs! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargarbl!

It's a conspiracy first set out in the emails the IRS sent from Benghazi, when Obama was born in Kenya as a communist muslim.

One Step Beyond is now playing in my head. Excellent.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

It's a conspiracy first set out in the emails the IRS sent from Benghazi, when Obama was born in Kenya as a communist muslim.

One Step Beyond is now playing in my head. Excellent.

Really? With the mention of Islam, I would have thought this.

[Rhodisia]

No surprise that the Democratic Party is a toxic and elitist organization.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

No surprise that the Democratic Party is a toxic and elitist organization.

How is not allowing proxy voting either toxic or elitist?

Also, you do understand that the Republicans have the exact same rule, right?

[Trotskylvania]

Tammy Duckworth is a representative, not a senator. Proxy voting is against the caucus rules. If they gave a proxy vote to her, why wouldn't they then have to give proxy votes to anyone else?

Is that real? It seems a strange rule.

Given the history of American politics, not really. The abuse of proxy voting by party leadership was a major part of the political machine toolkit.