Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced a bill on Tuesday that would fine lawmakers for photographing or recording events in the chamber, in what is likely a direct response to a June sit-in staged by Democrats. After the House cut the CSPAN video feed during the sit-in, which was a response to the House refusing to take up a gun-control bill, the Democratic lawmakers pulled out their phones, took photographs, and live streamed the protest on Periscope, garnering millions of views.

The new rules “will help ensure that order and decorum are preserved in the House of Representatives so lawmakers can do the people’s work,” Ryan’s  spokeswoman said in a statement. First violations will incur a $500 fine–deducted from the guilty lawmaker’s salary–and subsequent breaches will lead to a $2,500 fine. The next Congress will vote on the bill on January 3, and lawmakers from either party can propose amendments to the 34-page bill before that date.

Led by Georgia Representative John Lewis, a Democrat, the 25-hour sit-in was a response to Ryan’s refusal to allow a vote on gun control measures proposed after the Orlando nightclub shooting. While most happenings in the chamber are streamed by CSPAN, Ryan effectively shut off the cameras when he called for recess after Lewis and dozens of other lawmakers began the demonstration. To ensure the public still had a window into the chamber, the participants used their phones to live-stream the event, and CSPAN picked up the feed. The movement was referred to as #NoBillNoBreak on social media.

After Ryan, who received plenty of flack from GOP lawmakers after failing to respond to the sit-in, announced the bill, Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA), tweeted his reaction:

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

Some experts say that the rules could potentially violate Article 1 of the Constitution. Mike Stern, a former lawyer for the nonpartisan House counsel’s office, told Politico that the Constitution “gives the House the authority to discipline members; I have never heard of anything where an officer of the House was given that authority.” Rather than have fellow lawmakers handle disciplinary action, Ryan’s bill would grant the House Sergeant-at-Arms unilateral authority. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), responded by saying the bill’s language “appears to raise constitutional concerns.”

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post House Lawmakers May Be Fined if They Take Photographs in the Chamber appeared first on Law Street.

In response to inaction around gun control policy, Democratic representatives sat on their butts to encourage Republican legislators to get off theirs in what is now the longest running House sit-in on record.

The sit-in lasted more than 24 hours, extending beyond the republicans’ vote to adjourn the session until after the July 4 recess.

At 6 a.m. June 23, more than 19 hours after the sit-in began, roughly 20 democrats remained on the floor, according to the Washington Post. More than 170 democrats participated in the sit-in over the course of 26 hours, according to CNN. In case you’re wondering how they’ve made it this far, I’ve compiled some of their survival tactics below.

1. Bring in reinforcements

Senate Democrats made frequent visits and didn’t arrive empty handed.

Gifts included blankets, phone chargers, toiletries, and, Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s oh-so-historical contribution: Dunkin’ Donuts.

Massachusetts knows: America — and #NoBillNoBreak — runs on @DunkinDonuts. #birthdaydonuts#holdthefloorpic.twitter.com/XG1wzU5q41

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 23, 2016

(Dunkin Donuts has not released any public statement confirming or denying the company’s use of guerrilla advertising.)

2. Don’t forget to take selfies

When C-SPAN turned its cameras off, the representatives–realizing it’s 2016–turned to Periscope and social media to stream video of all the sitting action.

Well this is historic, the feed of the House floor being broadcast by a member on Periscope https://t.co/AkP1yehu07

— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) June 22, 2016

I’m on the House floor with @repjohnlewis & Dems staging a sit-in to demand action on commonsense gun legislation pic.twitter.com/byIivby5gG

— Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) June 22, 2016

3. Be careful what you chant for

From Wednesday into early Thursday morning, the representatives chanted, “No bill, no break,” which made for a catchy hashtag and an ambitious commitment to their seating choices.

.@SpeakerRyan, we will not leave without acting for the victims & families of reckless gun violence. #NoBillNoBreakpic.twitter.com/eTB1WMATMd

— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 23, 2016

Well, the democrats ended the sit-in shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, and no bill had been passed. An aide told CNN that they felt they had made their point, though.

Video shared by @VeraMBergen shows the crowd chanting “we’re with you” following end of #DemocraticSitInpic.twitter.com/16qaz8GbFA

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 23, 2016

4. When in doubt, bury exhaustion and failure to enact policy change under a nicely worded Terminator reference.

Rep. John Lewis, who spurred the sit in, said, “We must come back here on July 5th [when Congress returns to session] more determined than ever before.”

They’ll be back.

Samantha Reilly

Samantha Reilly is an editorial intern at Law Street Media. A New Jersey native, she is pursuing a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. Contact Samantha at SReilly@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post House Sit-In “Runs on Dunkin'” appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below: 

Ben Affleck Is Pissed Off On The Premiere of ‘Any Given Wednesday’

I’m sure you’ve seen those interesting ads on HBO for Bill Simmons’ “Any Given Wednesday” and thought: “Oh that looks interesting.” Well its premiere started off on a high note with a great rant by a very furious Ben Affleck on the deflate-gate scandal.  See the rant here (but be careful, he curses a lot!):

Many claim that Affleck was drunk (hence the cursing) during the rant but others say it was something else:

Ben Affleck on Deflategate? Got news for you – this is how we talk here in Boston. Does not sound slurred or overly angry to me.

— Naomi Pierce (@NaomiPierce) June 23, 2016

Affleck goes full Boston! You never go full Boston! https://t.co/XynfFCcCOJ

— Joysonism (@Joysonism) June 23, 2016

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: June 23, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Georgia Representative John Lewis (D-Georgia) is currently leading a sit in on the House floor. Lewis is joined by dozens of other Democratic congressmen in a movement now dubbed #NoBillNoBreak, and they’re all vowing to stay seated on the House floor until the GOP allows a vote on gun control measures.

The sit in began after Lewis, a civil rights leader, delivered a fiery speech on gun control, saying:

For months, even for years, through seven sessions of Congress, I wondered, what would bring this body to take action? “We have lost hundreds and thousands of innocent people to gun violence. Tiny little children. Babies. Students. And teachers. Mother and fathers. Sisters and brothers. Daughters and sons. Friends and neighbors. And what has this body done? Mr. Speaker, not one thing.

Then, he took a seat on the floor, and was immediately joined by many of his colleagues.

Unlike so many events that take place on Capitol Hill, footage of the sit-in isn’t being streamed by C-Span’s cameras. Republicans in the House called a recess, essentially shutting off the cameras’ views into the protest. But thanks to social media we still know what’s going on–here are some scenes from the floor:

Time to occupy the House to demand action. #NoBillNoBreak #DisarmHate pic.twitter.com/C7BZpzNvxL

— Rep Donna F Edwards (@repdonnaedwards) June 22, 2016

You won’t see us on CSPAN but we are still here. #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/44HOBT25WQ

— Janice Hahn (@Rep_JaniceHahn) June 22, 2016

Proud to sit with @RepJoeCourtney and others demanding action. #GoodTrouble #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/SNMWlQ0ZfZ

— Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) June 22, 2016

We’ve had almost all if not all of @HouseDemocrats. Currently @ least 3/4 of Caucus & many Senators. #NoBillNoBreakpic.twitter.com/70zlL8edLv

— Rep Donna F Edwards (@repdonnaedwards) June 22, 2016

One house member, Representative Scott Peters, is streaming the sit in live through periscope. 

There’s also been an outpouring of support on social media from other politicians, organizations, and individuals: 

Change only happens when people come together to say the status quo is unacceptable. We stand with you @HouseDemocrats. #NoBillNoBreak

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 22, 2016

I stand with those who Sit-In for gun control. #NoBillNoBreak #Enough

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) June 22, 2016

.@SenatorBoxer just arrived with granola bars. #NoBillNoBreak

— Tina Dupuy (@TinaDupuy) June 22, 2016

So I’m meeting with @keithellison. His scheduler walks in and hands him this note. Meeting ends #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/JwnusZKZuo

— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) June 22, 2016

Keep going @HouseDemocrats ! No parent should have a grave site for a child. #NoBillNoBreak#DisarmHatepic.twitter.com/jTAomUHQRE

— Nelba Márquez-Greene (@apricotmamiof2) June 22, 2016

Lewis’s sit in comes just a week after Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) filibustered for a vote on a number of different gun control measures. Those measures were rejected by the Senate on Monday. But Lewis, and his fellow House Democrats, are showing that this fight isn’t over. 

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post #NoBillNoBreak Sit in Started by House Democrats appeared first on Law Street.