At least this isn’t an anti-Christian rule.

Although it may have gotten its start in the usual “no Christmas in the public sphere” foolishness.

Via Memeorandum and Hot Air, Mark Tapscott notes that Congressmen are forbidden from saying Merry Christmas in official mailings:

Looks like the PC police have threatened members of the House of Representatives against wishing constituents a “Merry Christmas,” if they want to do so in a mailing paid for with tax dollars.

Members who submit official mailings for review by the congressional franking commission that reviews all congressional mail to determine if it can be “franked,” or paid for with tax dollars, are being told that no holiday greetings, including “Merry Christmas,” can be sent in official mail.

Here (via Tapscott) is what the rule says:

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.“

So it’s not just Christmas. It’s “holiday greetings.”

On the one hand: well, good. If Congressmen are going to spend tax money on letters and such, those letters oughta be strictly business. Hey, I don’t want Congressmen spending tax money to spread some damned touchy-feely Like Me! content-less drivel.

On the other hand…they can’t say Merry Christmas?

Or Happy New Year? I guess Happy Easter is out, then.

But what about holidays like the Fourth of July, Columbus Day, and Martin Luther King Day? Not that anybody normally wishes anybody else a happy Columbus Day, but these are all days which could easily become the subject of (or the inducement for) a political message.

Is it considered improper for a Congressman to use Martin Luther King Day as an opportunity to discuss race relations via official Congressional mail? I guess so, since that’s an official holiday, it would be “the primary purpose of the communication.”

So what about today? Bill of Rights Day, which isn’t an official holiday? Wax rhapsodic about the Constitution and America’s foundations in liberty; explain why our current sprint toward poverty and socialism runs contrary to the intent of our founding documents?

It’s not a “holiday,” so it doesn’t fall within the letter of the rules. Right?