Rep. Louie Gohmert airs beef with Capitol architect over BBQ ban
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert raked the Capitol architect over the coals Friday for the seven-year ban he had been forced to swallow on him cooking ribs on his office balcony.
The conservative firebrand lambasted the architect, who is responsible for the maintenance — including fire safety — of the Capitol building, in a speech on the House floor. The architect decided that Gohmert's balcony barbecues constituted a safety hazard and the congressman — who says his rib cooking had become a ritual every quarter — has had a bone to pick ever since.
"About seven years ago, the Architect of the Capitol, who works for the House and Senate, had decided that we all work for him and started making demands. One of which was, I could not cook ribs and share them with other members of Congress,” said the seasoned lawmaker about what for him is clearly a tender topic.
Gohmert emerged the victor in the culinary conflict, as House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican colleagues were, after some grilling, able to "persuade the bureaucracies here on Capitol Hill that we can make this work and have it safe if we work with each other."
It's no wonder his fellow representatives rallied to his side. Gohmert says many of them tell him that his is the "best meat they've ever tasted."
“I have enough of my late mother in me that I enjoy cooking and enjoy people enjoying what I cook,” Gohmert said. “It’s probably the only time here on Capitol Hill when I actually leave a good taste in people’s mouths instead of a bitter taste.”
It isn't clear if Gohmert typically cooks beef ribs, but it's commonly known there is never a lack of demand for pork on Capitol Hill.