**
New post on *Fellowship of the Minds*
<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/author/eowyn2/> “Merry Christmas”
PC Apartheid in
Congress<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/merry-christmas-pc-apartheid-in-congress/>by
Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/author/eowyn2/>
<http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pc.jpeg>
There's a PC apartheid in Congress.
"Merry Christmas" is banned in the U.S. House of Representatives but not in
the Senate.
Mark Tapscott
reports<http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/congressmen-cant-say-merry-christmas-mail/261466>for
The Examiner, Dec. 16, 2011, members of the House are told they can't
wish constituents a "Merry Christmas" in any mailing paid for with tax
dollars.
The congressional franking commission that reviews all congressional mail
to determine if it can be "franked," or paid for with tax dollars, has
issued an edict that no holiday greetings, including "Merry Christmas," can
be sent in official mail.
Members of Congress send millions of dollars worth of mail to constituents
every year but there are official rules that govern what can and cannot be
said in those mailings. Members are barred, for example, from saying
anything that might be construed as advocating their re-election.
But saying "Merry Christmas" is also not permitted, according to a Dec. 12
memo from the "Franking Commission Staff" concerning "Holiday Messaging."
The memo explains:
*"Members are unable at the current time to use official resources to
record holiday greetings, post on social media/website, or send to
constituents in franked mail or e-communications.*
*Member’s Congressional Handbook: GREETINGS-*
*Expenses related to the purchase or distribution of greetings, including
holiday celebrations, condolences, and congratulations for personal
distinctions (wedding anniversaries, birthdays, etc.), are not reimbursable.
*
*Franking Manual:*
*4(a). Example of Nonfrankable Items*
*-Birthday, anniversary, wedding, birth, retirement or condolence messages
and holiday greetings are prohibited.*
*You may make reference to the season as a whole using language along the
lines of 'Have a safe and happy holiday season.' It may only be incidental
to the piece rather than the primary purpose of the communication."*
Franking commission spokesman Salley Wood confirmed to* The Washington
Examiner* that members of Congress indeed cannot wish constituents "Merry
Christmas" in any official mailing: "Currently, incidental use of the
phrase Happy Holidays is permissible but Merry Christmas is not."
In other words, the very elected representatives who put "In God We Trust"
on America's currency are prohibited from using the greeting "Merry
Christmas" in official communications to their constituents!
But that's not the case with the Senate.
According to the regulation of the Senate Ethics Committee that handles
franking issues for members of the Senate the upper chamber:
*"Senators may not use the frank to mail holiday cards. However, Senators
may use officially related funds to mail holiday cards to
constituents.Holiday cards to friends should be sent with personal
funds, not using
Senate facilities. Senators also may NOT use the frank to acknowledge
holiday greetings that were sent to them. Senators may express holiday
greetings at the commencement or conclusion of otherwise frankable mail."*
And yet, it is the Senate that has a liberal Democrat majority whereas the
House has a Republican majority. Go figure.
*~Eowyn*
*Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/author/eowyn2/>* |
December 19, 2011 at 5:33 am | Tags: franking
commission<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=franking-commission>,
House of
Representatives<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=house-of-representatives>,
Senate Ethics
Committee<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=senate-ethics-committee>,
US Senate <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=us-senate> |
Categories: Uncategorized <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=1> |
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