As Pennsylvania lawmakers enter one of the busiest times of the year to negotiate the final details of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year by the end of June, some in the State Capitol are scratching their heads asking why one of their colleagues has decided to vote remotely.
Lawmakers and lobbyists who spoke on background have noticed that State Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) has not been seen in the capitol since lawmakers returned to the capitol earlier this month, but her legislative accounts have stayed active on social media, giving the appearance that she is working in Harrisburg.
Gaydos’ official Facebook account has been posting regular updates on the bills she has voted for over the past two weeks. After the House passed Gaydos’ resolution recognizing the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 3, Gaydos posted a video of her speaking in support of the resolution in front of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee from early May.
“When you sign up to be a state representative, everyone knows that June is the most consequential season or month in Harrisburg, and so if you’re not showing up in June, you’re not doing your job. You’re not doing what you committed to do for the people of your district,” Hadley Haas, who is running against Gaydos this fall, said in an interview.
Democrats are looking at the Allegheny County seat to expand their one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House. Haas is a communications and marketing consultant and a local leader with the Moms Demand Action Pittsburgh chapter running on a platform prioritizing a minimum wage increase and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
Changes made to the Pennsylvania House rules during the COVID-19 pandemic allow members to vote outside the House chambers as long as they have notified their party’s leadership.
A staffer from Gaydos’ office reiterated that the rules allow House members to vote remotely as long as they have access to a computer while the chamber is in session. When asked if Gaydos was on vacation, the staff member declined to characterize her whereabouts and pointed out that she is one of a few lawmakers in the legislature that has a 100% participation record.
“ I’m aware that proxy voting is available, and it’s certainly a good option for folks from time to time and as needed, but I think you realize that if you’re not in the room for the conversation, if you’re not there listening to the discussion around this legislation, then you’re missing out on some important information before you make a vote,” Hass said.
It’s unclear exactly how long Gaydos has been voting remotely, but Haas stated that she did not see her opponent greeting voters on Pennsylvania’s primary election day or at any Memorial Day weekend events.
“ Typically she would be at the Sewickley Memorial Day Parade and the Memorial Day Parade in Coraopolis, and those were two events that I attended,” Haas recalled. “There were cars with her logo on them, but she was not in the cars and was not present there at the parade.”
Gaydos came under scrutiny earlier this year after she praised the Trump Administration for removing slavery signage from the President’s House historical site located on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.
Gaydos said “good riddance” to the slavery exhibit, but quickly walked back her comments after they went viral.
