Our Congress can Tweet!

After much too long our Congress can now use social networking sites. These sites cannot ever ever be used to promote campaigns or elections, but can be used to connect with constituents and have some transparency.

According to the press release

"The Committee on House Administration adopted new web regulations that will permit Members
to use outside websites like YouTube to communicate with constituents.

The new regulations, which are based upon a proposal presented in June by GOP Members of the Committee, represent a vital step to providing new, uncensored channels of communication between Members of Congress and their
constituents. The new web regulations, which were adopted via Committee poll, permit Members to post content on outside websites so long as the content is for "official purposes," and not personal, commercial or campaign related.

Ranking Republican Vern Ehlers, R-Mich., applauded Committee
Chairman Robert Brady, D-Pa., for his leadership and ability to achieve policy agreements in a nonpartisan fashion. "Mr. Brady recognized the need to allow enhanced constituent communication, and demonstrated outstanding leadership that enabled this Committee to adopt a long-overdue change,"
Ehlers stated. "It is imperative that Members have the ability to use whichever web services they feel will best inform their constituents about the important issues facing this country."

In a release from Speaker Pelosi's office the good Speaker heralded the new rules

"The rule revisions adopted by the Committee on House Administration today are a significant step forward toward bringing House rules into the multimedia age and allowing for Members to effectively communicate with their constituents online.

I commend Chairman Brady for his leadership and for the committee’s bipartisan efforts to modernize the antiquated franking regulations to address the realities of communications in the internet age. I also thank citizen initiatives such as the Open House Project for their thoughtful recommendations and continued efforts to encourage Members to engage their constituents through internet technologies.

In the 110th Congress, the House has made significant progress to increase transparency through technology – from webcasting more committee hearings to posting lobbying disclosure forms online. Openness, transparency, and accountability are the hallmarks of the New Direction Congress. We will continue our efforts to be a web 2.0 House in the 111th Congress."

A victory!!!