House members want to say 'Merry Christmas'

Freshman Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., and Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., are collecting signatures for a letter they plan to send to House leadership asking that they rescind the Franking Commission rule that bans lawmakers from addressing their constituents with "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah."

"The Franking Commission should not be in the business of limiting members from addressing their constituents in the manner they chose and should certainly not be trying to enforce political correctness," the letter from Walsh and Ross says.

Ross and Walsh say they want the House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to revise the rules to match those governing the Senate, where Merry Christmas is not outlawed.

"If the Senate can allow these specific greetings, why should the House not do so as well?" says the letter.

The Franking Commission governs what House lawmakers can send to constituents on the U.S. taxpayer's dime.

According to the commission handbook, franking cannot be used for holiday greetings or to offer condolences or congratulations for that matter.