Young Releases Ad Highlighting Axne’s Voting by Proxy

VAN METER, Iowa – Young for Iowa released a new television ad titled “Picture.” It highlights U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, not showing up for work, not voting on roll call votes and outsourcing her vote by proxy to U.S. Rep Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland.

“When Iowans hire someone to do a job, they expect the employee to show up to work.  And it’s no different for our elected federal representatives,” said Campaign Manager Andy Swanson. “The primary and most sacred and entrusted job of a U.S. representative is to vote on behalf of their bosses who hired them, and Cindy Axne is skipping work and not living up to those expectations. Instead of showing up to work and casting votes on behalf of her constituents, Axne’s been outsourcing her job to another member from another state.”

“What’s also so disturbing is she’s not honest with her bosses – she isn’t transparent and telling her bosses where she has been, why she’s missing work and why she’s not voting.  Iowans expect and deserve better. David Young never missed a vote in four years on the House floor or in committee.  This is pretty straightforward – if Cindy Axne doesn’t want to show up and vote on behalf of the Third District, David will,” he added.

Transcript:

DAVID YOUNG:
I’m David Young and I approved this message.
 
ANNOUNCER:
Recognize this guy?
 
He’s been voting for you in Washington.
 
Cindy Axne supports Nancy Pelosi’s rule to outsource our vote.
 
Axne skips work and lets this far-left east coast Congressman vote in her place.
 
He’s pals with Pelosi, wants to raise taxes, and even spoke at a “defund the police” rally.
 
Iowans show up and do our job.
 
We deserve a member of Congress who does their job and represents us.
 
Not Cindy Axne.

Axne voted for House Resolution 965 allowing members to vote by proxy, which passed the House of Representatives on May 15, 2020, by a party line vote of 217 yeas to 189 nays (Roll Call 107). This was the first time in the history of the House of Representatives where proxy voting was allowed. This includes times when our nation was in the midst of civil war, two world wars, as well as other epidemics and pandemics. 

Axne has used the proxy voting process three times giving Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District vote to Raskin who represents Maryland’s 8^th Congressional District. He has touted, on his official congressional website, how he is one of the most liberal members of Congress. Raskin attended a protest in June of 2020 which called for defunding of the police. He voted against the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and referred to it as a hoax.

Axne has missed many votes on issues including policing reform and D.C. Statehood. She also did not show up for work when the House voted on post office reforms on August 22nd, even though she was concerned enough earlier in the week to call on U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to resign. There is no mention or excuse from her or her office of not being in Washington, D.C. during those vote day or why she was physically not present for those important votes. 

Here is a list of votes she was not physically present for (click on the “Caption Text” tab and search “Axne” to find when Raskin voted for Iowa’s Third District. Click on the “Legislative Actions” tab for bills considered that day.)

• Votes on Thursday June 25 (4 votes missed)
• Votes on Friday, June 26 (3 votes)
• Votes for Saturday, August 22 (4 votes)