Republicans Trying to Regain Control of House Floor as Democrats Stage Sit-In for Gun Control

Using Sergeant at Arms to Restrict Communications

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is facing the most challenging moment during his tenure as the nation’s top and most-powerful elected Republican. Democrats Wednesday morning began a sit-in, which is still going on, demanding Speaker Ryan and the powerful House Rules Committee allow a vote on gun control legislation. They vow to not move until a vote is scheduled.

Because Republicans control the House, they also control C-SPAN’s cameras, so the actual House Floor civil disobedience action – which MSNBC just compared to Occupy Wall Street – has not been carried on live television. Republicans also are in control of the actions of the Sergeant at Arms, and are using that official to control communications by House Democrats, including telling them they are not allowed to take photos or video or to post it to social media.

Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and about a dozen Democrats just held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol Building explaining they are demanding a vote on gun control legislation before the House breaks for recess at the end of the week. 

 

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