CONGRESS EVEN HAS WEIRD RULES FOR ITSELF
Erika Lovley, Politico - The complexities of House and Senate procedure are legendary, but the floor isn't the only place at the Capitol where the rules can be a little baffling. Capitol Hill is rife with restrictions - some written, some just universally accepted and some that don't make much sense at all. . .
A book could be written on what staffers can and can't eat at fundraisers - toothpicks, anyone? - but here are some of the other rules that drive staffers to drink:
Thou shalt not buy Kleenex When the swine flu panic hit Washington in April, Congress scrambled to respond, taking special precautions to ensure members didn't become infected.. . . Individual Senate offices couldn't use official funds to buy antibacterial wipes without a special interpretation of spending rules from the Senate rules committee. By the time the ruling came down, a lot of nearby stores were sold out of Lysol, and offices still aren't cleared to purchase other key flu-fighting tools with office funds, according to Senate staffers. "We are still not allowed to buy Kleenexes," said one Senate staffer. . .
Thou shalt not drink on the floor. Coffee and food aren't allowed on the Senate floor; there aren't supposed to be any BlackBerrys, either. But since 1966, senators have been allowed to drink milk as they deliver their speeches. . .
Thou shalt not divulge e-mail addresses This one varies by office. While some offices will give callers e-mail addresses for staffers - especially press secretaries - some flat-out refuse, and others give not-so-subtle hints. . .
Thou shalt not accept a ring in haste Odd regulations can affect private life off the Hill - even staffer engagements. "The first ethics briefing I went to, they actually said to be sure to say yes when someone asks to marry you before you accept the ring. Then [your fiance] is family, and you won't have to worry about getting approval to accept a gift over $250," said one House staffer. . .
A book could be written on what staffers can and can't eat at fundraisers - toothpicks, anyone? - but here are some of the other rules that drive staffers to drink:
Thou shalt not buy Kleenex When the swine flu panic hit Washington in April, Congress scrambled to respond, taking special precautions to ensure members didn't become infected.. . . Individual Senate offices couldn't use official funds to buy antibacterial wipes without a special interpretation of spending rules from the Senate rules committee. By the time the ruling came down, a lot of nearby stores were sold out of Lysol, and offices still aren't cleared to purchase other key flu-fighting tools with office funds, according to Senate staffers. "We are still not allowed to buy Kleenexes," said one Senate staffer. . .
Thou shalt not drink on the floor. Coffee and food aren't allowed on the Senate floor; there aren't supposed to be any BlackBerrys, either. But since 1966, senators have been allowed to drink milk as they deliver their speeches. . .
Thou shalt not divulge e-mail addresses This one varies by office. While some offices will give callers e-mail addresses for staffers - especially press secretaries - some flat-out refuse, and others give not-so-subtle hints. . .
Thou shalt not accept a ring in haste Odd regulations can affect private life off the Hill - even staffer engagements. "The first ethics briefing I went to, they actually said to be sure to say yes when someone asks to marry you before you accept the ring. Then [your fiance] is family, and you won't have to worry about getting approval to accept a gift over $250," said one House staffer. . .
posted by TPR | 12:02 PM
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