Boehner’s Office: The New Protest Central

For two years, room 235 of the Cannon House Office Building was a must-protest location for demonstrators visiting Capitol Hill.

And now, it appears that some of those same protests may unfold outside suite 1011 of the Longworth House Office Building next door.

235 Cannon was the office of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in the previous Congress. And 1011 Longworth is the office of current House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).

As Speakers of the House, both Pelosi and Boehner use the formal Speaker's Office in the U.S. Capitol right next to the Rotunda. Police restrict access to that office unless someone has an appointment. But both Pelosi and Boehner have traditional "rank-and-file" offices, just like all other Members of Congress. Those offices reside in the House and Senate office buildings and are adjacent to hallways that are open to the public during regular business hours.

So on Wednesday, members of Randall Terry's anti-abortion organization "Operation Rescue" showed up to demonstrate at Boehner's office. Protesters blocked the hall, prompting U.S. Capitol Police to arrest six demonstrators with "unlawful assembly."

Boehner was not present at the time of the protest.

The protesters are demanding that Boehner and other GOP leaders force the Senate to accept a House-approved provision that pulls all federal money from Planned Parenthood. Last week, the House adopted an amendment offered by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood.

Abortion is legal in the United States. But the so-called "Hyde" amendment, named after the late-Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL), bans federal dollars from paying for abortions. Planned Parenthood performs abortions at its clinics in addition to offering women other health services.

The House provision on Planned Parenthood is expected to face fierce opposition in the Democratically-controlled Senate.

Boehner is a longtime abortion opponent.