Monday, February 27, 2006
Cong. Melissa Bean Breaks House Rule Against Linking Campaign & Official Web Sites
Look what just dropped in my in-box.
But, 8th congressional district Congresswoman Melissa Bean does it. My source, who obviously and thankfully likes to make things easy for reporters, has provided this link.
Check it out and let's see how long it takes Bean's campaign staff to eliminate the forbidden link. [It's 8:45 PM Monday and the link has been taken down.]
From: http://www.house.gov/ethics/m_top_20_030498.htm
March 4, 1998
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM: Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
James V. Hansen, Chairman
Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democratic Member
SUBJECT: Answers to the "Top 20 Questions"
“11. Under the web site rules issued by the House Oversight Committee, a Member's site cannot include a link to his or her campaign web site. Can the Member's campaign web site include a link to the congressional office site? Can the congressional office site be advertised on the Member's campaign web site, or on campaign material issued by the Member's campaign?
The answer to both questions is no. It has long been the rule that campaign contributions cannot be used to support the activities of, or pay the expenses of, a congressional office, and under this rule, the Committee has long advised that campaign materials cannot include, for example, the address or telephone number of the congressional office. There is no basis for according any different treatment to either a Member's campaign web site or the office web site address.”
From: (the campaign web site)
http://www.melissabean.com/index.php?Sector=Public&Page=[00]%20Home
Message from Congresswoman Bean
Welcome to my 2006 Campaign Website.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the 8th District, what I have done as your Congresswoman and ways you may get involved in my re-election efforts, if you'd like to do so. You may also visit my official website for information on legislative issues and my work in Washington and Illinois as your representative.I encourage you to bookmark this page and return often, so you can keep up with the latest news on our campaign. I appreciate your support in helping me continue representing the 8th District with the moderate, commonsense leadership our families deserve.
Sincerely,
/S/ Mellisa L. Bean
A link to a United State House of Representatives March 4, 1998, memo from the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct containing questions and answers about the permissibility of linking one's campaign web site to one's official web site.It's apparently a No-No.
But, 8th congressional district Congresswoman Melissa Bean does it. My source, who obviously and thankfully likes to make things easy for reporters, has provided this link.
Check it out and let's see how long it takes Bean's campaign staff to eliminate the forbidden link. [It's 8:45 PM Monday and the link has been taken down.]
From: http://www.house.gov/ethics/m_top_20_030498.htm
March 4, 1998
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM: Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
James V. Hansen, Chairman
Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democratic Member
SUBJECT: Answers to the "Top 20 Questions"
“11. Under the web site rules issued by the House Oversight Committee, a Member's site cannot include a link to his or her campaign web site. Can the Member's campaign web site include a link to the congressional office site? Can the congressional office site be advertised on the Member's campaign web site, or on campaign material issued by the Member's campaign?
The answer to both questions is no. It has long been the rule that campaign contributions cannot be used to support the activities of, or pay the expenses of, a congressional office, and under this rule, the Committee has long advised that campaign materials cannot include, for example, the address or telephone number of the congressional office. There is no basis for according any different treatment to either a Member's campaign web site or the office web site address.”
From: (the campaign web site)
http://www.melissabean.com/index.php?Sector=Public&Page=[00]%20Home
Message from Congresswoman Bean
Welcome to my 2006 Campaign Website.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the 8th District, what I have done as your Congresswoman and ways you may get involved in my re-election efforts, if you'd like to do so. You may also visit my official website for information on legislative issues and my work in Washington and Illinois as your representative.I encourage you to bookmark this page and return often, so you can keep up with the latest news on our campaign. I appreciate your support in helping me continue representing the 8th District with the moderate, commonsense leadership our families deserve.
Sincerely,
/S/ Mellisa L. Bean
