Eight members of the March on Harrisburg group that’s pressing for ethics reforms in state government were forcibly removed from the House gallery Monday afternoon after showering several hundred $1 bills onto the Pa. State House floor at the opening of session.

The removals came as part of an ongoing series of civil disobedience actions over the past two years to press for action on a bill that would ban the time-honored practice of gift-giving to Pennsylvania’s state senators and representatives.

In all, 17 protestors affiliated with the group - including nine persons involved in an earlier incident - were cited for disorderly conduct by Capitol Police.

At present, Pennsylvania lawmakers are barred by chamber rules from accepting cash gifts (aside from separately-reported campaign contributions) or taking other gifts in exchange for direct action - otherwise known as bribes.

And Gov. Tom Wolf has imposed a strict gift ban within the executive branch.

But lobbyists and special interests can and do enhance relationships with legislators through gifts ranging from travel to ski passes to Super Bowl tickets.

The only requirement is that any gifts worth more than $250, and hospitality or lodging worth more than $650 in the aggregate be publicly disclosed with the State Ethics Commission.

House State Government Committee Chairman Garth Everett, R-Lycoming County, has left the door open to consideration of a gift ban bill this session, but March on Harrisburg spokeswoman Emmie DeCicco said Monday’s actions are meant to show marchers aren’t going to accept lip service on the issue.

As the House was gavelled into session Monday, some of the protestors dropped a banner reading “Some Are Guilty, All Are Responsible. Pass the Gift Ban Now!,” while two others tossed an estimated $500 in paper one-dollar bills marked “bribe" onto the floor below.

The incident occurred shortly after the pledge of allegiance, and while some members were still reporting to the floor.

Chief Clerk Dave Reddecliff said Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County, took the session into recess while Capitol Police assisted House security in escorting the chanting protestors out of the House gallery, and other staffers cleaned up the cash.

The point, DeCicco said, was to remind all lawmakers that until they act, the marchers consider “everyone responsible for the culture of corruption in Harrisburg... Everyone wants to hide behind each other and pass the blame."

The House interruption followed by minutes a separate action at the Capitol’s East Wing entrance where twelve other activists with currency taped over their mouths to symbolize the silencing of voters by special interests were removed for blocking the entrance.

A state Department of General Services spokesman said nine of those demonstrators were cited. (DGS is the state agency that includes Capitol Police.)

Reddecliff told PennLive that while the House gallery protest was unusual, he didn’t consider it a lapse in security since the objects used in the protest were not the kinds of things - like weapons - that House security officers typically screen for.

“We will have a discussion with our security team to see if anybody has any suggestions,” Reddecliff said. “But how do you screen for something like a sheet?”