Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fl.) announced Monday that she is leaving the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus due to a disagreement with members over proxy voting.
Luna had a resolution to change the House rules to allow new parents in the lower chamber to vote by proxy instead of traveling to DC to vote in person with a newborn. But, members of the House Freedom Caucus threatened to block the proposal.
“I have consistently supported each of you, even in moments of disagreement, honoring the mutual respect that has guided our caucus,” Luna wrote in a letter to the caucus obtained by Punchbowl News. “That respect, however, was shattered last week.”
“Acting within the House conference rules — rules we all agreed to — I sought to bring a vote to the floor on a measure that would allow new mothers in Congress (fewer than 14 in our nation’s history) and fathers, if they choose, to vote by proxy. This was a modest, family-centered proposal,” she continued. “Yet, a small group among us threatened the Speaker, vowing to halt floor proceedings indefinitely-regardless of the legislation at stake, including President Trump’s agenda-unless he altered the rules to block my discharge petition.”
Luna accused the group of breaking her trust and being hypocrites since one member opposing her proposal voted by proxy more than two dozen times.
“With a heavy heart, I am resigning from the Freedom Caucus,” Luna wrote. “I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values and where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people.”
