House Speaker Paul Ryan’s team panned the Democratic sit-in on the House floor Wednesday as a “publicity stunt” in an email to reporters.
“The House cannot operate without members following the rules of the institution, so the House has recessed subject to the call of the chair,” AshLee Strong wrote. The subject line of the email was, “Democratic publicity stunt.”
What happens the next time House Republicans try to go into session remains to be seen. Democrats shouted down Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, when he tried to take over as presiding officer at noon on Wednesday.
“They can stand on the floor and we can still vote,” a leading House Republican told the Washington Examiner.
Ryan could have the sergeant-at-arms clear the floor, but that might only add to the spectacle. “I don’t think that’s productive,” the lawmaker said. “There are ways to legislate and there are ways to get attention.”
