Loebsack and Capitol Tours

Dave Loebsack and the Red Coats

Not much noticed in state, but Beltway pubs Politico and The Hill both note:

“In an apparent attempt to justify its own existence, the Capitol Visitor Center staff is using the expansion of the CVC to actually make it harder for Americans to see our nation’s Capitol,” said Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).

Kirk and Rep. David Loebsack (D-Iowa) wrote a letter Monday airing their grievances to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), which oversees the CVC.

“Members’ offices now are forced to schedule tours around the schedule of the CVC staff instead of the schedule of our constituents, with little leeway for last-minute changes.”

The CVC tour guides, or “Red Coats” (so named for the color of their jackets), make it harder for visitors to tour the Capitol than it was before the CVC opened, said the lawmakers.