Post by robeiae on Nov 17, 2017 10:21:20 GMT -5
Here's a recent story: www.politico.com/story/2017/11/16/congressional-hispanic-caucus-deny-carlos-curbelo-244977
Here's the Hispanic Caucus' "about" page:
FYI, Congressional Member Organization members can use employees and other congressional resources to advance the agenda of the org, but CMO's do not exist as separate legal entities. Here are the rules governing such orgs: cha.house.gov/member-services/congressional-memberstaff-organizations/cmocso-registration-form#cmo
It's interesting to see how such rules are skirted, almost as a matter of course. For instance, there is this rule: "Members may devote a section of their official Web site to CMO issues, but CMOs may not have independent Web pages."
Seems clear, right? But note the address of the "about" page. Sure, it's linked to the chairwoman, but it really is a separate and independent page.
But to be fair, there is also this:
Playing the same game with web addresses, but more importantly, it's an Hispanic CMO for Republicans.
And here's a list of CMOs: cha.house.gov/sites/republicans.cha.house.gov/files/documents/cmo_cso_docs/115CMOList%2811.3.17%29_0.pdf
Look at how many are ethnic/relgious/country based. And to what end? I mean, I'm sure there's are "ends." I suspect dollar signs play a role.
But seriously, this is the kind of stuff Congresscritters waste their--and our--time doing. The fact that there are competing caucuses in some cases only makes it all that much more wasteful, I think.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Thursday denied Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo’s membership bid, the latest volley in a nasty dispute between the Florida lawmaker and some members of the all-Democratic caucus.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) was founded in December 1976 as a legislative service organization of the United States House of Representatives. Today, the CHC is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed by the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The CHC addresses national and international issues and crafts policies that impact the Hispanic community. The function of the Caucus is to serve as a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The CHC addresses national and international issues and crafts policies that impact the Hispanic community. The function of the Caucus is to serve as a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
FYI, Congressional Member Organization members can use employees and other congressional resources to advance the agenda of the org, but CMO's do not exist as separate legal entities. Here are the rules governing such orgs: cha.house.gov/member-services/congressional-memberstaff-organizations/cmocso-registration-form#cmo
It's interesting to see how such rules are skirted, almost as a matter of course. For instance, there is this rule: "Members may devote a section of their official Web site to CMO issues, but CMOs may not have independent Web pages."
Seems clear, right? But note the address of the "about" page. Sure, it's linked to the chairwoman, but it really is a separate and independent page.
But to be fair, there is also this:
The Congressional Hispanic Conference seeks to emphasize both national and international issues that have a significant impact on the Hispanic community in the United States. The members believe that Hispanics play a vital role in our democracy and must be actively engaged in all the issues facing our nation. For too long, Hispanics have been framed as a single issue community. The Congressional Hispanic Conference creates a forum for Members of Congress to collaborate in the creation of a cohesive legislative agenda, and is dedicated to promoting the interests of all Hispanics.
And here's a list of CMOs: cha.house.gov/sites/republicans.cha.house.gov/files/documents/cmo_cso_docs/115CMOList%2811.3.17%29_0.pdf
Look at how many are ethnic/relgious/country based. And to what end? I mean, I'm sure there's are "ends." I suspect dollar signs play a role.
But seriously, this is the kind of stuff Congresscritters waste their--and our--time doing. The fact that there are competing caucuses in some cases only makes it all that much more wasteful, I think.
