Republicans defend display of Confederate imagery in Capitol

WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders have blocked a Democratic congressman from Mississippi from offering legislation to ban Confederate imagery from the House side of the Capitol complex.



Congressman Bennie Thompson had sought the opportunity to ban display of the Mississippi state flag and statues of Confederate icons such as Jefferson Davis. Mississippi's state flag incorporates the Confederate battle flag in its top inner corner.



The move by House Republican leaders comes a day after House Speaker Paul Ryan said he would ban Democratic "poison pill" amendments from being offered to appropriations bills.



Last year, a dispute over displays of the Confederate flag derailed the appropriations process, but an amendment to a spending bill earlier this year was easily adopted.



Thompson sought to offer the amendment to a spending bill funding House operations.