CREW Requests Investigation of Rep. Bachmann After Anti-Health Care Bill Rally at Capitol.WASHINGTON -- Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) requested that the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) investigate whether Rep. Michele Bachmann Michele Marie Amble Bachmann (born on April 6 1956) is the Republican Representative of Minnesota's 6th congressional district, one of eight congressional districts in Minnesota. The district includes many of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, and also includes St. (R-MN) violated House rules by organizing and holding a November 5th rally on the U.S. Capitol grounds Captiol Grounds is a former baseball ground located in Washington, D.C.. The ground was home to the Washington Nationals of the Union Association in 1884. to oppose a health care reform bill. CREW contends that Rep. Bachmann misused her official congressional website by urging people to come to the Capitol to protest the legislation despite House rules restricting members from using their websites to engage in "grassroots lobbying or solicit support for a Member's position." Rep. Bachmann's website urged people to come to the Capitol rally "and tell their Representatives to vote no" on the health care reform bill. "Taxpayers fund members' websites and because of that those sites may not be used to organize a public rally for or against any particular legislation," said Melanie Sloan Melanie Sloan (b. 16 December 1965) is the Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Sloan was born in Delaware.[1] She attended the University of Chicago and received her J.D. from University of Chicago Law School. , CREW's executive director. CREW also asked OCE to determine if Rep. Bachmann and other members violated House rules by failing to acquire a permit for the Nov. 5 rally and by falsely calling the event a "press conference," though no questions were asked by the media. Politico quoted from a Republican Study Committee email directing staff See: exercise directing staff. members to "please make sure your boss does not term this event a rally." A Capitol Police Capitol police in the United States are agencies charged with the provision of security police services for various state agencies, but especially State Legislatures. Capitol police may function as part of the state police or may be an independent agency. spokeswoman confirmed the lawmakers had no permit for a demonstration. In a TV interview, however, Rep. Bachmann urged opponents of the bill "to come to Washington, D.C. by the car load." "Whoever heard of a press conference without questions?" asked Sloan. "Calling a rally a press conference to circumvent congressional rules is like calling a Hummer a Prius to meet fuel efficiency standards." Sloan continued, "The OCE needs to make clear that members must abide by all rules, even those they find politically inconvenient." Click here for a copy of CREW's letter requesting the OCE investigation and click here for the letter's exhibits. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact Matt Jacob at 202.408.5565 or mjacob@citizensforethics.org. |
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