McCarthy Declares End of Controversial Proxy Voting in House of Representatives

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at a news conference in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, on Jan. 12, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Thursday declared an end to the controversial practice of proxy voting that allowed lawmakers to cast their votes remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“No more proxy voting,” McCarthy declared. “Effective immediately, Members of Congress have to show up to work if they want their vote to count.”