[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 6 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        REDEFINING ``ESSENTIAL''

  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise his remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, as Los Angeles dug out from under earthquake 
rubble and the Northeast and Midwest dug out from under snow and frigid 
cold--loyal employees in the House mail-room tried to dig out 
from under mounds of outgoing, taxpayer funded, member newsletters. 
Recently, the Mayor of the District of Columbia declared an emergency, 
shutting down the Federal Government and instructing all but essential 
personnel to stay home.

  But somebody redefined the word ``essential'' to include workers in 
the mail folding room and they were ordered to work. Just what is so 
essential about the masses of self-promotional, newsletters Members of 
Congress churn out to their constituents? Could it be that election day 
cycles are upon us again? This is not about delivering mail through 
rain and sleet and snow in the best tradition of the postal service.
  It is about the high priority Congress assigns to taking care of 
itself first under current leadership. It's time to stop election abuse 
of the franking privilege. It is an expensive fraud of the taxpayers.

                          ____________________