【Glori-Anne Gilbert Archives】

Democrats led an epic sit-in (25 hours is Glori-Anne Gilbert Archivesnothing to sneeze at) on the House floor last June when House Speaker Paul Ryan refused to vote on gun control bills following the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Livestreams, tweets and other social media posts of the hours-long Democratic refusal to leave chambers spread all over the internet, but now Ryan is proposing a vote in January to bring in rules that fine anyone who uses electronic devices to photograph, film or broadcast from the House floor.

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That would keep Democrats and anyone else from showing what happens after the official House cameras and broadcast shuts off. In June, Periscope and Facebook Live feeds showed the prolonged protest, with C-SPAN even picking up a Periscope stream to show viewers an inside view.

Already, taking photos or videos on the House floor is prohibited, but this would add an enforcement element, although it's unclear how it would be enforced and if that's allowed.

If the $500 fine for a first offense and $2,500 fee for subsequent offenses are implemented they will affect violations in the future -- it's not retroactive, so the Democrats from June's sit-in will not be penalized for their livestreamed protest.

Democrats are pushing back against the proposal. Some say it blocks the public's access to Congressional protests and an inside look into the political system. California Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, spoke out on Twitter against the proposed rule.

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The proposed fines and restrictions also might not jibe with Article 1 of the Constitution. Some are saying the would-be fines and rules are unconstitutional.

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Ryan's spokeswoman AshLee Strong said in an email to Mashablethat the changes "will help ensure that order and decorum are preserved in the House of Representatives so lawmakers can do the people's work."

Also in the proposed set of rules: no intentionally blocking members from moving in or out of the chambers and other disruptive behavior involving microphones or other objects.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

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