Key Points:

• Rep. Anna Paulina Luna resigns from the House Freedom Caucus amid a dispute over proxy voting for new parents.
• Her discharge petition gained support, but the Freedom Caucus leadership attempted to block it.
• Luna accused her colleagues of betrayal and backroom dealing.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) announced her resignation from the House Freedom Caucus on Monday, citing significant discord within the group regarding her initiative to permit new parents in Congress to vote by proxy. In a letter addressed to her colleagues, Luna expressed that the respect among members of the caucus had diminished due to attempts by some hardline conservatives to thwart her push for remote voting during a crucial period following childbirth.

In her resignation letter, Luna accused members of the Freedom Caucus of threatening to halt congressional proceedings indefinitely unless House Speaker Mike Johnson altered House rules to obstruct her proposal. “With a heavy heart, I am resigning from the Freedom Caucus,” she stated, citing feelings of betrayal stemming from the tactics employed by some caucus members to undermine her legislative effort.

Luna's stand was bolstered by a discharge petition she initiated, receiving support from both Republicans and Democrats. The measure aims to enable legislators who become new parents to designate colleagues to vote on their behalf for up to 12 weeks. This legislation saw notable bipartisan support, gathering enough signatures to force a vote despite leadership's opposition. However, a faction within the Freedom Caucus sought to derail her efforts, highlighting fractures within the previously united group.

During discussions in the House, Johnson argued against proxy voting, labeling it unconstitutional and warning of potential abuses of the privilege. Despite this, Luna pointed out that many members, including Johnson himself, had voted by proxy during the pandemic, raising questions about consistency in their current opposition.

The tensions within the House Freedom Caucus are indicative of a broader fracturing following the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other internal disputes. Luna's exit marks another significant loss for the caucus, which has struggled to maintain cohesion in recent years.

The recent events underscore the ongoing debates around family-friendly policies within Republican ranks and the challenges the party faces in reconciling traditional conservative stances with modern legislative needs.

For more information on this topic, visit The Hill or Newsweek.