Rules gag free speech between voters and elected officials.
According to a December 12th memo by the House Franking Commission, congressmen in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail or e-mail.
Congressmen 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 strickly prohibited.
In addition, the memo also noted that congressmen 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 permisible but Merry Christmas is not," said Salley Wood. Curiously, these rules do not apply to Senators.
In a communication to the Winchester GOP, Republican State Committeeman Bernie Green of Medford urged all members of the Winchester Republican Town Committee 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.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
October 13th set for Important Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Winchester Republican Town Committee will be held downstairs in the Waterfield Room at Winchester Town Hall , 71 Mount Vernon Street, Winchester Massachusetts, on Thursday October 13th. The meeting will convene at 7:00PM.
RTC Secretary Eric VanGemeren intends to complete the process of having all who wish to be elected as members of the Winchester Republican Town Committee and have their name appear on the March 6, 2012 Presidential Preference Ballot sign the Nomination Papers he intends to submit for certification and filing as required by State law. Nominees and Nominators must sign the form as appropriate and as directed.
VanGeneren asks that the members and anyone else interested in learning more about the committee and the nomination process attend the meeting.
Winchester RTC member Marie Barratta is expected to attend and provide a report on the September 16th Cocktail Party and Fundraiser.
RTC Secretary Eric VanGemeren intends to complete the process of having all who wish to be elected as members of the Winchester Republican Town Committee and have their name appear on the March 6, 2012 Presidential Preference Ballot sign the Nomination Papers he intends to submit for certification and filing as required by State law. Nominees and Nominators must sign the form as appropriate and as directed.
VanGeneren asks that the members and anyone else interested in learning more about the committee and the nomination process attend the meeting.
Winchester RTC member Marie Barratta is expected to attend and provide a report on the September 16th Cocktail Party and Fundraiser.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Winchester Republican Town Committee to meet September 13th
The next meeting of the Winchester Republican Town Committee will be held in the Waterfield Room at Winchester Town Hall, 71 Mount Vernon Street, Winchester, Massachusetts on Tuesday September 13th. The meeting will convene at 7:00PM.
Preparation and signing of the Nominating Sheets will be an important part of the evenings business. All persons wishing to be nominated and have their name appear on the ballot in the March 6, 2012 Republican Presidential Primary who are seeking to be elected as a member of the Winchester Republican Town Committee should attend the meeting. Nominees and Nominators must sign the form, as appropriate and directed.
The Committee intends to complete the process in time to meet local certification and state filing requirements as indicated in the Guide provided by the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office.
Preparation and signing of the Nominating Sheets will be an important part of the evenings business. All persons wishing to be nominated and have their name appear on the ballot in the March 6, 2012 Republican Presidential Primary who are seeking to be elected as a member of the Winchester Republican Town Committee should attend the meeting. Nominees and Nominators must sign the form, as appropriate and directed.
The Committee intends to complete the process in time to meet local certification and state filing requirements as indicated in the Guide provided by the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Annual Cocktail Party and Fundraiser Set
The Women's Republican Club of Winchester and the Winchester Republican Town Committee will again co-sponsor their annual Cocktail Party and Fundraiser which will be held on Friday September 16,2011. The social scheduled to begin at 6:30PM will offer an assortment of tasty morsels and snacks, some of which are home-made, for the enjoyment of the members and guests attending the event.
Several candidates, office-seekers and elected officials have been invited and are expected to offer remarks. The evenings featured speaker will be Shanna O'Connell, State Representative for the 3rd Bristol District. Mary Z. Connaughton, former Candidate for State Auditor, and now Director of Finance and Administration at the Beacon Hill Institute, an independant non-partisian, privately-funded research organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts, will be a special invited guest.
Other candidates for local office are expected to attend. The cost per person is $35.00 paid in advance - or - $40.00 if paid at the door. Those wishing to attend are requested to reply by September 8, 2011 to Marie Baratta at (781) 729-8313.
Several candidates, office-seekers and elected officials have been invited and are expected to offer remarks. The evenings featured speaker will be Shanna O'Connell, State Representative for the 3rd Bristol District. Mary Z. Connaughton, former Candidate for State Auditor, and now Director of Finance and Administration at the Beacon Hill Institute, an independant non-partisian, privately-funded research organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts, will be a special invited guest.
Other candidates for local office are expected to attend. The cost per person is $35.00 paid in advance - or - $40.00 if paid at the door. Those wishing to attend are requested to reply by September 8, 2011 to Marie Baratta at (781) 729-8313.
FCC Formally Erases Fairness Doctrine
The Fairness Doctrine, which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented in 1949 to require broadcasters to present both sides of controversial issues, became less relevent as cable TV exploded in the 1980's. So the FCC dropped the rule in 1987, but it never erased the language implementing it - until August 22nd of this year, that is.
The agency formally dumped more than 80 media industry regulations. Other rules the FCC tossed include the "broadcast flag" digital copy protection rule that courts overturned and those pertaining to the cable programming service tier rate.
Monday's action constituted part of the commission's response to an executive order from President Barack Obama implementing a "government-wide review of regulations already on the books" to strike unnessary rules.
The agency formally dumped more than 80 media industry regulations. Other rules the FCC tossed include the "broadcast flag" digital copy protection rule that courts overturned and those pertaining to the cable programming service tier rate.
Monday's action constituted part of the commission's response to an executive order from President Barack Obama implementing a "government-wide review of regulations already on the books" to strike unnessary rules.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Town Day Committee offers Thanks
Once again members of the Winchester Republican Town Committee and the Women's Republican Club of Winchester have teamed up to provide representatives to greet the public passing by the Republican booth on Main Street during the annual Town Day Celebration held on Saturday June 4th.
The members provided information about the GOP and Committee during the daytime exhibition hours and passed out pamphlets custom designed for the occasion. Eric van Gemeron Secretary of the Winchester Republican Town Committee offered thanks to all who volunteered time to keep the booth fully staffed throughut the day.
Among those participating were Phyliss Johansen, Eric van Gemeron and Bill O'Leary who set up the booth in the morning and cleaned up the site at the end of the day; State Committeeman Bernie Green, his wife Peggy and Mary Robinson who were there in the morning; Dot Neri, Judy Myrha, Maureen McCarthy, Harry Shuris and Ann Paladino who were there during the day; a special thank you to Marie Baratta who manned the booth for the entire day and to George Geogountzas, running again for State Representative, who greeted townies for a while.
The members provided information about the GOP and Committee during the daytime exhibition hours and passed out pamphlets custom designed for the occasion. Eric van Gemeron Secretary of the Winchester Republican Town Committee offered thanks to all who volunteered time to keep the booth fully staffed throughut the day.
Among those participating were Phyliss Johansen, Eric van Gemeron and Bill O'Leary who set up the booth in the morning and cleaned up the site at the end of the day; State Committeeman Bernie Green, his wife Peggy and Mary Robinson who were there in the morning; Dot Neri, Judy Myrha, Maureen McCarthy, Harry Shuris and Ann Paladino who were there during the day; a special thank you to Marie Baratta who manned the booth for the entire day and to George Geogountzas, running again for State Representative, who greeted townies for a while.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Here is the Point: Stumbling in the Darkness of Zero Tolerance
By Rick Greeley
Republican State Committeeman (2nd Plymouth and Bristol District)
When is enough, enough? Every week it seems that another story surfaces surrounding the lunacy of yet another "zero tolerance" policy gaffe. Government agencies, most notably public school districts, often employ so-called zero tolerance policies in order to deal with a particular issue. The purpose of those policies is to appear to lay down the law, as if to say this particular behavior will not be tolerated at all, no ifs, ands or buts about it. And we will deal with those who break these rules in such a harsh and impartial manner that it will deter all others from doing the same.
Click here to read the full story.
Republican State Committeeman (2nd Plymouth and Bristol District)
When is enough, enough? Every week it seems that another story surfaces surrounding the lunacy of yet another "zero tolerance" policy gaffe. Government agencies, most notably public school districts, often employ so-called zero tolerance policies in order to deal with a particular issue. The purpose of those policies is to appear to lay down the law, as if to say this particular behavior will not be tolerated at all, no ifs, ands or buts about it. And we will deal with those who break these rules in such a harsh and impartial manner that it will deter all others from doing the same.
Click here to read the full story.
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