Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna resigned from the House Freedom Caucus on Monday night after the group moved to prevent a vote on her plan to allow new fathers and mothers to vote in the House by proxy rather than having to travel with their infants.
“For several years, I have stood shoulder to shoulder with you, from the speaker’s fight — where I was one of only 20 — to numerous efforts aimed at bringing the institutional change Washington so desperately needs. My goal has always been to work alongside like-minded individuals committed to fighting for the American people and delivering on the promises President Trump campaigned on. 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 addressed to the caucus,” Paulina Luna declared.
“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,” Paulina Luna 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. When compromise proved impossible, our own Freedom Caucus members on the House Rules Committee and a small faction of our group advocated to change our rules of governance by tying my petition to a rule that would kill it and attaching it to the SAVE Act,” she said.