Rules gag free speech between voters and elected officials.
According to a December 12th memo by the House Franking Commission, congressman in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail or e-mail.
Congressman use their franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail or e-mail to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strictly prohibited.
In addition, the memo also noted that congressman can't use their official social media pages to wish constituents "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year." It cited the Rules of Practice which also states congressmen cannot use "colors that give the impression of a holiday greeting."
A Franking Commission spokesman 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," said Sally Wood. Curiously, these rules do not currenty apply to Senators.
Medford City Committee Chair and State Committeeman Bernie Green urges all of our readers to call or e-mail Congressman Ed Markey and Speaker John Boehner, urging them to reverse the franking rules to allow Christmas and other holiday greetings in mailings to voters.
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