Reply #6: Salon has a piece on this today.

[Robbien]

House panel moves to limit floor access

A Cabinet member's role in pressing lawmakers to back the Medicare prescription drug law last year prompted the House ethics committee to recommend changing a 200-year-old rule allowing the president's top appointees access to the House floor.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson joined Republican lawmakers on the House floor in an extraordinary lobbying campaign to round up votes for the Medicare bill. The bill passed Nov. 22, after a roll-call vote lasting three hours, two hours 45 minutes longer than usual.

more at link:
http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/10/01/house/index_np.html

So now if Delay wants to twist an arm, he is going to have to pass notes.