House Republicans Halting Lobbyists’ Special Access : Congress: Admittance to the Capitol after hours and to non-public areas near the chamber will end next week. Parking perks will also be lost.

Attempting a bit of image repair, House Republicans announced Wednesday that they will end the issuance of special cards that grant lobbyists after-hours access to the Capitol and access to non-public areas near the House chamber.

Rep. Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) said that beginning June 1, the blue “building access cards” that for years have been issued to lobbyists and others with regular business at the Capitol will no longer be honored. More than 6,000 of the cards are in circulation.

“Our new policy treats everybody the same,” Nussle said. “What’s good enough for the general public ought to be good enough for lobbyists.”

Republicans have come under fire this year for openly inviting lobbyists to draft bills, organize support for the party’s “contract with America” legislation and in one case even sit with committee members during a hearing.

Lobbyists have been allowed to stand in the hallways near the House chamber during roll calls so they can try to influence votes. Now they will have to get a visitor’s badge or an invitation from a member or staff aide if they want to visit non-public areas.

“Ending the practice of giving lobbyists special treatment will help renew the people’s confidence in Congress,” Nussle said.

But a spokesman for a lobbyist organization said the move could make it appear that the GOP is inventing a new way to squeeze lobbyists for contributions.

“What that will do is give very selective access,” said Wright Andrews, president of the American League of Lobbyists. “People will work out regular arrangements with certain members or staff. People who are allowed in may be some of the lobbyists who can make the biggest contributions.

“When you ask people for favors, it would not be unprecedented for them to ask for favors in return.”

“This is a tremendous blow to the First Amendment,” which promises the right to redress of grievances with the government, said Melissa Merson of the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. “It says the public and representatives of the public no longer have the right to watch Congress conducting their affairs.”

Meanwhile, Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) issued a warning on the House floor reminding former members of the House that they are barred from using their privilege of floor access to lobby.

And Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield) announced that lobbyists would no longer be given parking spaces on Capitol Hill.

Thomas’ House Oversight Committee approved a plan Tuesday to open 854 parking spaces near the Capitol to the public while ending the informal practice of allotting parking spots to lobbyists.

“This is our way of putting out the welcome mat for our constituents,” said Thomas, whose panel’s decisions do not need to be approved by the full House.