Nearly half the House will not physically be in attendance during Friday's vote on the omnibus bill to fund the government through September.
There are 227 active proxy voting letters for Friday, meaning those lawmakers have said they are unable to be present in the Capitol building and have designated a colleague to vote on their behalf. The proxy voting rule is a pandemic allowance and is meant to only apply to absences related to COVID-19.
The omnibus bill passed by the Senate Thursday costs $1.7 trillion, and it was finalized at the last minute following weeks of negotiations. Proxy voting is a controversial practice that the new Republican House majority will likely end when it takes control in January. Some conservative lawmakers hold that the practice is unconstitutional and cite numerous abuses in which members have taken advantage of it to go on vacation or attend fundraisers. Proponents argue that it ensures constituents are represented even when their lawmakers can't physically represent them due to illness or family obligations.
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