On Dec 19, 9:25 am, Travis <baconl...@gmail.com> wrote:
> **
> 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-...>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...>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> |
> URL:http://wp.me/pKuKY-biS
>
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