By Leo Wolfson, State Political Reporter
Leo@Cowboystatedaily.com
There are far more questions than answers when it comes to U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney’s long-term future and whether she will continue to align with the Republican Party after her congressional term expires.
In the meantime, despite politically-charged accusations she favors the Democratic platform, Cheney’s voting record hasn’t shifted much. But she has missed 34 votes since losing her Aug. 16 Republican primary election.
She was absent on four days in September, including Thursday.
Cheney missed all seven votes taken Sept. 14 and six of the seven votes taken Sept. 15.
Cheney’s only vote that day came on an amendment to the Preventing a Patronage System Act, which she was one of seven Republicans to vote against. Later the same day, she didn’t vote on the bill, which passed.
On Sept. 19, she missed three more votes.
Cheney was back with the House members Sept. 20 and voted on four bills. She also was active Sept. 21, 22 and Wednesday.
On Sept. 21, she was the only Republican of 212 members to vote for two amendments to reform the process for the counting of electoral votes under U.S. Code, which passed on otherwise partisan lines. Shortly after, she was one of nine Republicans to vote for her Presidential Electoral Reform Act, which passed.
No-Vote Draws Ire
Cheney missed one vote Sept. 22, a push to approve considering a bundle of law enforcement-focused legislation drew frustration from some, including two of the most conservative Republicans in the House.
“The House was one vote away from defeating a Democrat anti-police bill, but Liz Cheney couldn’t be bothered to show up to vote,” said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, on Twitter.
Conservative firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, also tweeted about Cheney not voting on the bill.
“@Liz_Cheney is so committed to Joe Biden and the Democrats that she just intentionally skipped an anti-police vote that Republicans could have defeated,” Greene tweeted. “She clearly supports the Democrat war on police. Go ahead and switch parties Liz before you’re out of office.”
The resolution passed by a single vote, although U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Massachusetts, a member of “The Squad,” voted “present” on the resolution. The Squad is the handle used to describe a small group of younger, progressive members of the House.
Cheney later voted against three of the four bills in the bundle. The only vote she supported was for the Invest To Protect Act, which 152 Republicans joined with her on. This measure passed.
She missed 16 more votes Thursday.
Other Options
When not physically present for a vote, members of Congress still have an option to vote by proxy, a holdover of the COVID-19 pandemic rules put in place in 2020.
Cheney is vice chair of the Jan. 6 Committee. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Illinois, the only other Republican on the committee, also missed every vote Thursday. House Minority Leader U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, also missed votes that day.
Since losing to Harriet Hageman in the primary, Cheney has voted with the majority of her party 15 times. The three votes mentioned earlier are the only ones in which she voted with a majority of Democrats.
Cheney has vowed to support candidates who oppose former President Donald Trump and the people he has endorsed with her Great Task PAC. She said last week this possibly could include campaigning for Democrats and that she would leave the Republican Party if it endorses Trump for president.
