Who is Picking Up the Tab for Sunday Brunch?

Q:I am a staff member of the House Appropriations Committee. After church last Sunday, my husband and I chatted with a married couple who are new to the area. They were both very nice, so we invited them to brunch at a diner where my husband and I go every week after church. When the check came, which was $65 for the four of us, the husband, Jason, insisted on paying, despite our objection. I noticed that he initially tried to use a corporate credit card but then switched because the diner only accepts cash. My question is this: I know that the new rules forbid accepting gifts from lobbyists and from companies that retain lobbyists. However, Jason is not a lobbyist, and I am not aware that the company Jason works for retains any lobbyists. I thought it would have been impolite to ask. Was it OK for Jason to pay?