Projo Politics Blog

If you’re thinking about visiting the House Lounge for a little R&R during your next visit to the State House, think again.

House leaders have revived an old rule that only the House legislators, their staff and, yes, we here at Political Scene, may enter either the House floor or the adjacent lounge.

Lobbyists, advocates and members of the public are no longer allowed in.

To reinforce the point, House pages now stand guard at the doors.

Spokesman Larry Berman said the change was a matter of reducing foot traffic. “We’re heading now into the home stretch, the last three months of the session, and it has been pointed out to the speaker that it has been rather noisy and hectic in the House Lounge, so we wanted to reiterate the rule,” he said.

Berman acknowledged that the lounge and its plush couches have been crowded with lobbyists anxious to get a sympathetic ear from legislators, but said it was no one’s intention to shut them out.

“It’s just been hectic,” he said.

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