Login
FAQ
Search
Did a rally geared at saving government resources actually misuse them?
Could be, at least technically. Rep. Michele Bachmann's House homepage shout-out to tea party types for her Nov. 5 rally on the West Front steps may have violated the letter of the administration committee's rules on the use of official, taxpayer-funded websites.
Here are some highlights of Bachmann's e-release, posted on Nov. 2:
Bachmann Calls on the American People to Bring the Town Hall To Washington
"This is the deciding moment and the people need to make sure their representatives know where they stand."
WHAT: Health Care "House Call" on Washington Press Conference
WHO: Republican Members of Congress
Actor Jon Voight, Radio Host Mark Levin and others.
WHEN: Thursday, November 5, 2009 from 12:00-2
WHERE: West Front of the U.S. Capitol (House Side)
"The American people need to stand up again and make sure that Congress hears them this time. Speaker Pelosi is putting her bill on fast track to a vote - and it remains to be seen if the House will even get a chance to vote on the commonsense Republican alternatives. The people need to make a House Call on Washington this week and tell their Representatives to vote no to a government takeover of one-fifth of our economy. This is gangster government at its worst."
The Committee on House Administration rules on the use of official resources seem pretty explicit on prohibiting precisely this kind of announcement, presumably because it blurs the line between members' right to publicize constituent town halls and their use of the franking [or Webbing] privilege for party- or movement-building purposes.
Bullet point No. 3 in the Web "Content" section of the rules says member sites:
May not include grass-roots lobbying or solicit support for a member's position.
UPDATED: Bachmann's press secretary didn't directly answer my question but wrote: "Rep Bachmann's website encourages the American people to exercise their right to petition and ensure their voices are heard, what ever their position may be."
That said, I spent about 15 minutes plumbing the site and wasn't able to find any pro-health care reform releases, speeches or links.
Flashback: Mike Allen noted in Playbook the day before the rally that the communications director of the Republican Study Committee, apparently aware of the tricky rules issues, e-mailed GOP aides emphasizing the need to refer to it as a "press event" rather than a rally.
