Pelosi Blocks Pregnant Democrat Tammy Duckworth from Voting by Proxy for Leadership

Nancy Pelosi on Tammy Duckworth: No doctor’s note situations (Politico)

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi rebuffed criticism on Monday that Democrats are keeping a pregnant congresswoman from voting during leadership elections, arguing that allowing a proxy vote creates a slippery slope for missing members.

During a caucus meeting last week, Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) asked to be allowed to vote in leadership and ranking member elections by proxy as she is unable to travel to Washington because of her pregnancy.