The House on Tuesday adopted new rules that will enact heavy fines against lawmakers who refuse to comply with the security tests now required to enter the House following the Jan. 6 insurgency.
Fines of $ 5,000 for the first offense and $ 10,000 for the second are now in effect.
Metal detectors outside the House of Commons were installed days after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a violent crowd of alumni President Trump
Donald Trump: Georgia Secretary of State opens investigation into Lin Wood over allegations of illegal voting Schiff puts pressure on Newsom to be named California AG: Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick Reported in Honor a Rotunda MORESupporters who tried to prevent Congress from certifying President Biden’s election victory.
But several House Republicans bravely challenged Capitol police officers and the sergeant-at-arms in the House of Commons without going through the metal detectors.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiSchiff puts pressure on Newsom to be named California AG: reports that Biden pays tribute to future Capitol police officer Sicknick Greene fallen on House committees after GOP meeting MORE (D-California) later announced that fines would be levied on lawmakers (who will be deducted from their salaries) for enforcing compliance.
“It is incomprehensible why any member would refuse to comply with these simple common steps to keep this body safe. It is sad that we have been forced to move forward with a rule change that imposes fines on those who refuse to comply with these protections, but the House of the People must be and will be safe, so that we can fulfill our responsibility to do the work of the People, “Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday.
The fines were included in a measure taken along the party line that sets minimum debate parameters for a budget resolution, which is expected to pave the way for Democrats to approve a coronavirus relief package without Republican support. .
Under the new rules, any commission of the sergeant-at-arms of a fine against a legislator will be made public by the House Ethics Committee.
Members shall have the right to appeal any fine within 30 calendar days or five legislative days, whichever is later. The House Ethics Committee will then have the same deadline to consider the appeal.
Lawmakers will not be able to use campaign funds or congressional office budgets to pay fines.
Metal detectors were installed after several GOP lawmakers, particularly Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) And Madison Cawthorn (RN.C.), both invoked inflammatory rhetoric before Jan. 6, promoting the Trump’s false claims of election fraud and openly arguing carrying guns on Capitol Hill.
And last week, CNN found that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) Seemed to support the execution of prominent Democratic politicians, including Pelosi.
“We have people in this House who have posted disturbing rhetoric against members of this body. These words and actions raise serious security concerns,” said Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Chair of the House Rules Committee.
Last month, Democrats’ fears against Republican lawmakers carrying firearms when they received it were confirmed. Andy Harris
Andrew (Andy) Peter HarrisHouse votes to enact fines against lawmakers who fail to comply with metal detectors Democrats are trying to make illegal weapons at the Capitol – for everyone. Rep. Bush says he is moving away from Greene for safety (R-Md.) He almost entered the room of the house with a concealed pistol that was only captured by a metal detector.
Harris’ office said at the time that he and his family had recently faced security threats and indicated that the Maryland Republican carries a weapon for self-defense.
But the Harris incident further aggravated tensions and even led some Democrats to openly express concern about the potential for violence on the floor.
Members of Congress have been partially exempt from current rules that prohibit people from carrying weapons anywhere in the Capitol complex. Lawmakers can store weapons in their offices or transport them (unloaded and wrapped securely) to any other location on the Capitol precinct.
But they are prohibited from carrying weapons in the chambers of the House and Senate or adjacent areas.
Lawmakers also have the privilege of ignoring security, apart from the metal detectors that are now outside the House of Commons. All staff and visitors must go through metal detectors to enter the Capitol complex.
Two House Democrats: California representatives. Jared Huffman
Jared William HuffmanHouse votes to enact fines against lawmakers for failing to comply with metal detectors Democrats try to make illegal weapons in Capitol – for everyone House Democrats try to block drilling on the west Arctic coast i Jackie Speier
Karen (Jackie) Lorraine Jacqueline SpeierHouse votes to impose fines on lawmakers who fail to comply with metal detectors Night Defense: Biden warns of sanctions after Myanmar coup | Biden asks the Supreme Court to cancel the arguments of the border wall | Dem urges detection of troop social media Speier calls for detection of social media accounts of service members MORE – Last week, legislation was reintroduced that would put an end to the arms exemption for the legislature.
New fines for breaching metal detectors are not the only punitive measure the House Democrats have enacted in recent weeks to enforce rules aimed at ensuring security.
Last month, the House enacted fines against any lawmaker who fails to comply with rules in place since July that require masks in the House during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers who do not wear masks are subject to a $ 500 fine for the first offense and $ 2,500 for the second.
Democrats began imposing fines after several House Republicans wore no masks while in safe space for lawmakers during the Jan. 6 attack. Later, at least three House Democrats tested positive for COVID-19 after taking refuge in its place in the room.
The fines for enforcing House rules are not unprecedented. In 2017, House Republicans enacted fines to punish lawmakers who violated rules banning photography on the ground as a result of Democrats ’push to push for gun control legislation.