Can Lobbyists Visit House Floor?

The new House rules have confused plenty of folks on and off Capitol Hill, so former Republican Rep. Jack Kemp of New York stirred some concern last week when he showed up on the floor during the vote to grant Washington, D.C., an official seat in the chamber.

Kemp, an active supporter of the bill, raised eyebrows because he’s a registered lobbyist, and the rules adopted last year under the Republican-controlled Congress prevent paid lobbyists from visiting the House floor.

The former lawmaker said he was on the floor to show his support for the legislation and asked someone during the vote whether he was allowed to be there. But the person, whom Kemp didn’t identify, could not say if it were a violation of the new House rules – some of which have confused members, lobbyists and staff.

The rules state that no former members are allowed on the floor if they are the "registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal," have a direct personal or financial interest in legislation that is pending or works for an organization that has paid the member to influence, "directly or indirectly, the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative proposal."

According to the Senate's disclosure database, Kemp has not registered as a lobbyist for any of the organizations pushing this bill and said his interest in the issue is one of personal conviction.