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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

RNC “Census” update: Yet another law tries to stop it


Members of Congress are apparently so ticked off about the Republican National Committee's use of a "Census" to raise money in its mailers that they've introduced a new bill to stop it,  passing it quickly this week on a voice vote in the House of Representatives.

So what, Republicans out there might say. The House is run by Democrats always looking to take a shot at the GOP. Except this bill was written by Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, and it passed without dissent from either party.

The RNC remains unabashed about its mailings, which have gone out to Eastern Washington residents as well as folks in some other states. RNC Chairman Michael Steele, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "This was within the law as written. I can't help it that the Democrats wrote a bad bill."

He answers a question about it in at about 6:17 of the above clip..

The previous bill outlawing the practice was sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and passed unanimously in the House and Senate this year. The RNC believes it complies with the law, which bans the use of the word Census on the envelope, because "Census Document" appears on a page of the mailing with the addressee's name that's inside the envelope and shows through a plastic window.

Issa told the Associated Press it's not a partisan issue. "When it comes to the Census htere is no separation between Republicans and Democrats. Working together we thought we put an end to this deceptive practice. Unfortunately, the foolishness of the RNC to move forward with yet another deceptive mail piece has caused us to act again."

The new bill is now in the Senate.



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.