Ryan’s in the House, but available by appointment only

WASHINGTON—Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is taking a break from the campaign trail to vote on a government funding bill at the Capitol and, for the time being, his office is open by appointment only.

Just as the sign on Ryan's door in the Longworth House Office Building promised, a Ryan staffer greeted Yahoo News after a knock on the door Thursday afternoon. She said Ryan was planning to vote on the House floor on the continuing resolution bill but had no further information about his visit. When asked if Ryan would stop by his office to greet his staff, she repeated, "We have no further information at this time. Thank you," and closed the door.

The added security is understandable given Ryan's new role as Mitt Romney's running mate—he also now has Secret Service protection wherever he goes—but the office closure is atypical of the way House offices operate under normal circumstances. The congressional office buildings that surround the U.S. Capitol are fully accessible to the public. Most offices, including Ryan's, traditionally encourage visitors to walk in unannounced. Some members even hand out free goodies, such as orange juice from Florida, Coca-Cola from Georgia and cheese from Wisconsin.