Ryan proposes fines, ethics moves on grandstanding House members
By Bloomberg News December 24 at 6:59 PM
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and his Republican lieutenants want to hit fellow lawmakers with fines and potential ethics violations if they engage in live-streaming or other disruptions on the House floor.
The move is a belated response to this summers 25-hour sit-in by Democrats protesting Republican inaction on gun-control legislation.
Under the proposed new rules package, which was seen by Bloomberg News, members could face a $500 fine through deductions to their paychecks for a first offense of using electronic photography or audio or visual recording, as well as for broadcasting from the chambers floor. A $2,500 fine would be leveled for the next such offense and each subsequent violation.
The new rules also clarify which conduct is to be deemed disorderly or disruptive during floor proceedings, including blocking access by other members to microphones or what is known as the well the front of the chamber.
Such action could lead to potential referral to the Committee on Ethics and sanctions against members, according to an accompanying section-by-section analysis of the new rules package.
more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ryan-proposes-fines-ethics-moves-on-house-members-after-disruptions/2016/12/24/fe4e2996-ca2c-11e6-8bee-54e800ef2a63_story.html?utm_term=.f2333c249c6c&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1