In a Bubble: Indiana Congressman Proposes Putting House of Representatives Behind Plexiglas
- Posted on January 12, 2011 at 10:58am by
Meredith Jessup
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After Saturday’s attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, members of Congress are looking for ways to step up their own personal security. Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois announced Tuesday that he will push to have members’ office budgets increased to cover additional security measures — just one week after House Republican leadership cut members’ office budgets by 5 percent. Jackson’s proposal would increase House office budgets by 15 percent.
Another congressman, Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana, is reportedly planning to introduce legislation next week that would encase the House of Representatives’ public gallery in a “transparent and substantial material” such as Plexiglas. An aide to the Indiana rep told CBS that the measure is aimed at keeping members of the public from being able to throw explosives or make other attacks on member on the House floor.
It’s unclear how any kind of weapon could reach the House gallery after guests to the Capitol go through security to enter the building, and further security checkpoints before entering the House and Senate galleries.
Burton has actually introduced similar legislation in the past. “The Architect of the Capitol shall enclose the visitors’ galleries of the House of Representatives with a transparent and substantial material, and shall install equipment so that the proceedings on the floor of the House of Representatives will be clearly audible in the galleries,” the bill states.
CBS News reports:
A past version of the legislation… references past attacks on Congress. Among them are a 1915 bombing by a man protesting U.S. involvement in World War 1, the shooting of five members of Congress by Puerto Rican nationalists during a House vote in 1954, and a the placing of a bomb by the Weather Underground in a Senate bathroom in 1971. (The bomb went off early and no one was hurt.)
There were also two incidents in 1983. The first involved a man strapping an explosive to his body and trying unsuccessfully to detonate it in the House visitor’s gallery. And the second came when a group called the Armed Resistance Unit planted a bomb outside the Senate chamber. The bomb detonated at 11:00 p.m., when no one was in the area.
More recently, in 1998, a gunman shot two police officers at an entrance to the Capitol.
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CygnusX1
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 2:00pmGREAT IDEA Congressman Burton! But lets go a couple steps further. Completely seal the House & Senate Chamber. Then broadcast all legislative sessions live. Every household gets a hand held control that allows the air to be removed from the chamber. If the legislators try to pass any laws that the public does not like, they will get the hint of the publics mood when they find it more and more difficult to breath!
Report Post »MUDFLAPS
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 10:16pmhow about behind bars?
Report Post »lildeb56
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 9:36pmIf the local law enforcement had done their jobs right, this wouldn’t have happened.I would think the Reps should have a security detail assigned to them, or had secret service for these kinds of contingencies…
I do not know what they are usually assigned, so if I’m off base, let me know.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 9:32pmCongress, for the last two years has been in a bubble. their bubble covered their eyes ears and brains.
They didn’t listen to the Citizens, they didn’t read their own bills, and for sure they didn’t use their brains – so now perhaps we have a better thinking House of Representatives. The Senate and the Presidency is next.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 7:16pmThey better not raise their budget for security. There also should be no “bubble”. This is the people’s house. They are secure inside that building. …Use any catastrophe to their advantage…
Report Post »1911a1
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 7:09pmTypical. Pansy ! One man who does something crazy, and our so called leadership want to hide oin a bunker. Geeez good grief !
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 6:29pmThey have already put themselves in a bubble. They are in their own little world. Thinking their lives have more worth than the rest of us. They are far safer at their work place than most of us are at ours. I am pretty sure those that are there have hired GUNS to protect them.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 4:57pmTheir biggest fears should be being exposed for the greed and corruption . I am sure the security is ranked among the highest for their safety. This is ridiculous and another way to waste money of the people .
Report Post »DMcPher316
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 4:48pmyou are searched before you go into the capital building, rules say that you are not allowed even a camera in the gallery and certainly not supposed to make noise or anything. They have nothing to fear when in the building there, just typical overreaction to a perceived threat by people that think the are more important that us comon folk….god lovem’
Report Post »annieoakley
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 4:36pmWeather Underground? Of professor Bill Ayers fame? Planting a Bomb? Must be Sarah Palin’s fault, she gave him the idea. Or let’s see Rush, Glenn, or maybe we could blame Sean?
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 12, 2011 at 5:28pmThese Rep’s want to improve the security at the House and their offices, then let them each pay for it out of their own pockets. They seem to forget our country is already on the edge of being totally beyond bankrupt.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on January 13, 2011 at 8:11amIf they can’t stand the heat, they need to get out of the kitchen.
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