Congress mulls stepping up security

Lawmakers are already engaged in vigorous debate over their security, with several pushing for dramatic measures and more money and others saying the actions of a single deranged gunman shouldn’t shut them off from the public.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) told POLITICO in an e-mail that he plans to propose a reversal of the 5 percent cut Republicans made in members’ office budgets, and he wants a 10 percent increase to cover more security measures in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).
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“There are a lot of desperate people in our society who may be unemployed, uneducated and despondent. They are susceptible to rumors, innuendo and anti-government rhetoric that only serves to inflame an already combustible environment,” he wrote.

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) intends to reintroduce legislation this week that would enclose the House Gallery with a protective Plexiglas case to prevent members of the public from throwing explosive devices onto the House floor. It’s a bill he’s introduced year after year, but now he plans to push it more vigorously.

House Administration Committee Chairman Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) has proposed “an A to Z” review of the Capitol Police and its security processes.

“No one questions White House security, and I think we ought to have the same kind of vigilance in the House,” Lungren said. “It doesn’t mean we’re going to get personal agents, but it does mean we’re going to look at what’s necessary and make arrangements.”

But some Republicans say it’s unclear whether additional funding and security projects would prevent another incident like the shooting of Giffords. And they add that most members should be using local police — not the Capitol Police or special guards — when they hold events in their home districts.

“It’s far too early to jump to a conclusion like that without knowing more about the incident,” said Georgia Rep. Jack Kingston, who earlier this year suggested the House cut costs by ending security details and escorts for “lower-level leadership members.”

“I know a lot of members believe we are entitled to a special sort of elite police force, but that is not the case. The Capitol Police protect us at the Capitol, but when we go outside to our apartment, we are just like any other citizen.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47400.html#ixzz1Ajy7azrV