HOUSE GOP IS PRO-CHRISTMAS…. It was just six weeks ago that House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) decided he was fed up with empty, meaningless congressional resolutions. These largely symbolic measures are taken up all the time — it’s been routine fare for years — but Boehner decided they’re now evidence of Democratic negligence. “These are your hard-earned tax dollars at work,” Boehner scoffed.
He apparently didn’t persuade his own caucus. This week, 19 House Republicans unveiled a resolution (H. RES. 951) to make it clear that Congress likes Christmas.
Whereas Christmas is a national holiday celebrated on December 25; and
Whereas the Framers intended that the First Amendment of the Constitution, in prohibiting the establishment of religion, would not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1) recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas;
(2) strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas; and
(3) expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions by those who celebrate Christmas.
That’ll show the anti-Christmas crusaders. If this entirely toothless resolution garners support, everyone will know that congressional politicians approve of the holiday. All of those folks intent on “banning references to Christmas” — presumably they exist outside of far-right imaginations, right? — won’t know what hit ’em.
“These are your hard-earned tax dollars at work.”
