In addition to their short-lived effort to get rid of ethics oversight, Republicans added another new rule to punish Democrats for resisting. They've instituted a fine of up to $2,500 for members taking photos on the floor, in retaliation for last year's sit-in to protest lack of action on gun safety legislation. Democrats are not impressed.
Roll Call spotted Democrats taking photos in an apparent protest to the proposed fine, which the House is expected to adopt later on Tuesday as part of a vote on a package of rules governing operations of the lower chamber. However, the photos were snapped during the brief period of the start of a new Congress where the House has no rules, since they have not yet adopted the new package and the previous rules expired at the end of the 114th Congress. […]
Rep. Jackie Speier of California tweeted a photo of a mostly empty chairs on the Republican side of the aisle, saying, “@HouseGOP in disarray not on the floor for quorum call!” At the time she took the photo, House Republicans were meeting in the basement of the Capitol, voting to strip an unpopular change to the Office of Congressional Ethics from the rules package.
And when the photos are as adorable as this, by all means House Democrats, keep sharing!