101Scout
12-22-2008, 04:09 PM
I'm not sure how I feel about this one... since our government should be about the ppl's business and government, yet, one might say what's the harm with a Santa that makes a few bucks doing pics.... so all I ask at this point is, how about ethics correct all things ethically wrong on Capitol Hill rather than simple shit like this? It's a toss up whether this is really a serious enough issue or not in my opinion.
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Ethics rules complicate life for Santa
By Emily Goodin
Posted: 12/20/08 04:16 PM [ET]
It has to do with a section of the ethics law that requires payment for seeing a performer, explained Larry Noble, an attorney at Skadden Arps and a former general counsel for the Federal Election Commission. Some think having Santa Claus at a party would violate that part of the law, but Noble disagrees.
“I think you could have Santa Claus come to a party,” he said. “Ethics rules stop you from having free entertainment. I think that’s going too far to not have Santa Claus at your party.”
At past holiday receptions at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which throws one of Washington’s biggest Christmas parties, Santa has posed for photos with staffers. This year, the spot where Santa usually sat contained an empty chair.
“The Chamber doesn’t take a position for or against Santa Claus,” said Chamber spokesman J.P. Fielder, who declined to address directly whether new ethics rules were a factor.
But he joked: “Santa is an important part of the holidays. It’s really not the ethics rules that are holding him up. We hear last year the airspace was over capacity, prohibiting him from getting here. It’s a shame our nation’s poor infrastructure is keeping Santa away from the states. It’s time for Congress to address the issue.”
Others say the problem lies not just with having Santa at a party, but with staffers having their picture taken with him.
A source on the Senate Ethics Committee explained it depends on the value of the picture. It would have to be under $10 to make it legal. “It just gets complicated,” he added.
Common Cause, an organization devoted to honesty in government, agrees.
“It depends on who pays for it. I don’t know if that could be tied to gifts,” said Mary Boyle, a spokeswoman for the group.
At the same time, Boyle’s group isn’t making a fuss about Santa Claus pictures.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Ethics rules complicate life for Santa
By Emily Goodin
Posted: 12/20/08 04:16 PM [ET]
It has to do with a section of the ethics law that requires payment for seeing a performer, explained Larry Noble, an attorney at Skadden Arps and a former general counsel for the Federal Election Commission. Some think having Santa Claus at a party would violate that part of the law, but Noble disagrees.
“I think you could have Santa Claus come to a party,” he said. “Ethics rules stop you from having free entertainment. I think that’s going too far to not have Santa Claus at your party.”
At past holiday receptions at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which throws one of Washington’s biggest Christmas parties, Santa has posed for photos with staffers. This year, the spot where Santa usually sat contained an empty chair.
“The Chamber doesn’t take a position for or against Santa Claus,” said Chamber spokesman J.P. Fielder, who declined to address directly whether new ethics rules were a factor.
But he joked: “Santa is an important part of the holidays. It’s really not the ethics rules that are holding him up. We hear last year the airspace was over capacity, prohibiting him from getting here. It’s a shame our nation’s poor infrastructure is keeping Santa away from the states. It’s time for Congress to address the issue.”
Others say the problem lies not just with having Santa at a party, but with staffers having their picture taken with him.
A source on the Senate Ethics Committee explained it depends on the value of the picture. It would have to be under $10 to make it legal. “It just gets complicated,” he added.
Common Cause, an organization devoted to honesty in government, agrees.
“It depends on who pays for it. I don’t know if that could be tied to gifts,” said Mary Boyle, a spokeswoman for the group.
At the same time, Boyle’s group isn’t making a fuss about Santa Claus pictures.