RNC Census Mailers

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RNC Census Mailers

Did The RNC Consider Mailing Out Illegal 'Census' Forms?

Ryan J. Reilly | February 16, 2012, 6:04AM

A 2010 mailing from the Republican National Committee with the words "Census Document" was so controversial that Congress passed a law making such tactics illegal. In early 2011, the RNC was apparently planning to do it again.

That's according to the Direct Marketing Association, which said in a recent ethics report obtained by TPM that the RNC, under its current chairman, was "likely" to mail out an "identical mail piece" to the one that got them into trouble. The RNC denies such a plan was ever under consideration during the new regime.

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Topics: RNC, RNC Census Mailers

Steele On RNC 'Census' Mailer: We Followed The Rules -- Dems Just Wrote A Lousy Bill

Ben Frumin | April 28, 2010, 6:47PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

RNC Chairman Michael Steele defended the RNC's 'Census' mailer in an appearance on CNN a few minutes ago, saying the mailer "complied to what the law required."

The RNC mailer bears the words "Census Document" and, in all caps, "DO NOT DESTROY/OFFICIAL DOCUMENT," on the outside of the envelope. In smaller letters, it says: "This is not a U.S. government document."

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Topics: Michael Steele, RNC Census Mailers

RNC Census Mailers

House Passes New Bill Banning RNC 'Census' Mailer Once And For All

Ben Frumin | April 28, 2010, 11:11AM

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Moments ago, the House passed a new bill that seeks to ban misleading Census mailers once and for all.

The new legislation, prepared by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the top GOPer on the House Oversight committee, would close any loopholes in the existing law that already bans deceptive fundraising mailers of the sort sent recently by the RNC.

The new bill passed the House by voice vote.

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Topics: Darrell Issa, RNC Census Mailers

Republican National Committee

GOPers Blast RNC 'Census' Mailers: 'Nothing Could Be More Wrong'

Zachary Roth | March 4, 2010, 5:28PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Two Congressional Republicans today blasted those RNC fundraising mailers that appear made to look like official Census Bureau communications. "Nothing could be more wrong," said one.

During a hearing of the House Oversight committee, which is looking into the mailers, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) declared: "I am obviously a member of the Republican Party. I have seen the Republican Party send out documents that say 'census.' I think it's wrong, I think it's deceptive, and I wish they wouldn't do it. I would hope our party would cease from doing that."