Frankly...

As far as I can tell, it started here, with Mark Tapscott at the Washington Examiner:

Looks like the PC police have threatened members of the House of Representatives against wishing constituents a "Merry Christmas," if they want to do so in a mailing paid for with tax dollars.

Members who submit official mailings for review by the congressional franking commission that reviews all congressional mail to determine if it can be "franked," or paid for with tax dollars, are being told that no holiday greetings, including "Merry Christmas," can be sent in official mail.

Another example on the PC "War on Christmas" I guess.

Except, it's not.  Not after you take a deeper look.

From Tapscott:

Members of Congress send millions of dollars worth of mail to constituents every year but there are official rules that govern what can and cannot be said in those mailings. Members are barred, for example, from saying anything that might be construed as advocating their re-election.

But saying "Merry Christmas" is also not permitted, according to a Dec. 12 memo from the "Franking Commission Staff" concerning "Holiday Messaging."

And he goes on to quote the memo:

Members are unable at the current time to use official resources to record holiday greetings, post on social media/website, or send to constituents in franked mail or e-communications.

Member’s Congressional Handbook: GREETINGS-

Expenses related to the purchase or distribution of greetings, including holiday celebrations, condolences, and congratulations for personal distinctions (wedding anniversaries, birthdays, etc.), are not reimbursable.”

Franking Manual:

4(a). Example of Nonfrankable Items -Birthday, anniversary, wedding, birth, retirement or condolence messages and holiday greetings are prohibited.”

You may make reference to the season as a whole using language along the lines of 'Have a safe and happy holiday season.' It may only be incidental to the piece rather than the primary purpose of the communication."

Two things here.  It's not that saying "Merry Christmas" is not permitted.  Rather, members of the House can send every one of their constituents a Christmas card if they wanted to.  They just can't ask the taxpayers to pay for it.

And second - there's a Franking Manual?

But this must be a new thing, right?  A newly imposed PC rule from the Pelosi/Obama crowd now controlling the House of Representatives, right??

Ha.  That was a funny.

Ok, so despite the fact that the House is now controlled by the GOP, this offensive PC rule must be a holdover from when the socialists who control the Democrat party controlled the House, right?

Um, no.  Here's the manual.

The date on the front page reads:

June 1998

And who was Speaker of the House in June of 1998?

That would be Newt Gingrich.  Remember the late 90s?  The GOP gained control of the House after the 94 elections.

But what about that Franking Commission?  Who were they?  More precisely, who's responsible for this offensive PC fiat stomping the religious freedoms of our God fearing House members?

From the manual:

BILL THOMAS, California, Chairman

JOHN BOEHNER, Ohio

ROBERT W. NEY, Ohio

STENY HOYER, Maryland

WILLIAM CLAY, Missouri

MARTIN FROST, Texas

Would you look at that. Current Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner was on the Committee that released the Franking manual in June of 1998. As well as Bob "They're not French Fries, they're Freedom Fries" Ney.  House controlled by Newt, Franking Committee controlled by Republican Bill Thomas, committee members include Boehner and Ney and still they banned Christmas from the House mailings!!

They ought to be ashamed.  Really.