House Republicans are proposing a rule change that would punish representatives who take photos or videos on the floor of the chamber. They are doing this in response to the heavily emotional sit-in by House Democrats, which occurred in June following the Orlando massacre. Democrats were demanding a vote on gun control legislation in the wake of the worst shooting in American history.
.@HouseGOP wants to fine me, @RepBetoORourke & @RepScottPeters for filming #gunviolence sit-in. I'll always stand w/ victims. Bring.It.On.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 26, 2016
Dear @HouseGOP, you can fine me & @HouseDemocrats all the way into bankruptcy for #gunviolence sit-in, but we will always speak for victims.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 26, 2016
Republicans Angered By Democratic Sit-in
During the sit-in, Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) used Periscope, a video-streaming app, in order to live stream footage of the sit-in. The protest was not publicly broadcast because the House had not formally gaveled into session. However, C-Span eventually broadcasted Rep. Peter’s footage.
The new rule being proposed by Republicans would fine members of Congress up to $2,500 for digital photography, audio, or visual recordings on the House floor. Ashlee Strong, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), said in a statement Monday:
“These changes will help ensure that order and decorum are preserved in the House of Representatives so lawmakers can do the people’s work.”
Rep. Paul Ryan Mocks Protest
In reality, these changes are an attempt at punishing Democrats for their protest, as well as an effort to further hide the inner workings of the representatives in our government. Ryan had condemned the Democrats’ sit-in, calling it a ploy “to get attention.” Perhaps Paul Ryan is unable to see past his own political gamesmanship, where every move is calculated in order to fill the pockets of him and his constituents. But it’s quite a harsh statement to make about a protest led by civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) in an effort to force a vote on gun control legislation following a nationwide tragedy.
Regarding the protest, Rep. Lewis stated:
“There comes a time when you have to say something, when you have to make a little noise, when you have to move your feet. This is the time. Now is the time to get in the way. The time to act is now. We will be silent no more.”
Maybe it’s because Paul Ryan doesn’t have the experience of being arrested and beaten multiple times while protesting for civil rights — something that Rep. Lewis has plenty of — but it’s hard to imagine that Rep. Ryan and the Republicans are on the right side of this issue.
While Republicans make even more of an effort to turn Washington into a gateway for their hidden agendas to pass without Americans noticing, it’s up to us to support politicians like Rep. Peters and Rep. Lewis, who fight to protect and inform the American public.
Watch footage from the June Democratic protest over gun legislation below:
Featured image credit: screengrab from YouTube
