The Best Jokes From Congressional Prom Night

On Wednesday, the Washington Press Club Foundation hosted its 69th Annual Congressional Dinner, an event where reporters bring members of Congress as their "dates." It's not as exciting as the White House Correspondents Dinner, so it's best to think of it as junior prom — all the sweaty awkwardness of the real thing, but even fewer attendees manage to score.

Nevertheless,  Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) were in fine form as they addressed the gathering:

Read More »

Tags: Heidi Heitkamp, Jason Chaffetz, Media

House Bans Census Mailings That Aren't Census Mailings

If you received one of the GOP's fundraising letters designed to look like an official U.S. Census form, hang on to it (assuming you didn't "return it along with your generous contribution") — that piece of paper could soon be an historic artifact…

The House passed legislation Wednesday that would ban misleading mailings designed to appear they're from the Census Bureau, following criticism that Republican groups were sending fundraising letters using the census name.

Under the bill, mailings marked "census" will be required to state the name and address of the sender, along with an unambiguous disclaimer that the survey was not affiliated with the federal government.

The legislation passed 416-0, after two Republicans who sit on the House panel overseeing the census, Rep. Darrell Issa of California and Jason Chaffetz of Utah, agreed to co-sponsor the measure. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., has said he intends to move forward with legislation in the Senate.

See how easy it is for Congress to get things done, if people put their minds to it?

Now why can't they be as efficient about banning the actual Census, the way Michele Bachmann wanted all along?

Tags: Census, Darrell Issa, House of Representatives, Jason Chaffetz, Michele Bachmann, Republicans, Tom Carper

Republicans Fighting to Repeal Not-Yet-Passed Legislation

Six GOP congresspeople are vowing to repeal some not quite yet new legislation once it is passed into law and thus becomes eligible for repeal.

It's just like the old saying goes: Obstruct early and often…

"We know it’s not enough just to fight ObamaCare — it could still pass," the Club for Growth's "Repeal It!" Web site says. "So our pledge is to Repeal It!"

The first two lawmakers to sign on were Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. — both conservative heroes for their dedication to hacking away at government. Within an hour of the pledge going live, a handful of others had joined them — Louisiana Sen. David Vitter and Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling and Kansas Reps. Jerry Moran and Lynn Jenkins.

This is a nice effort on their part, but it doesn't really go far enough in my opinion.

These guys should be on the front line of conservative activism, fighting to have marriage equality instituted federally so that they can get that repealed, working tirelessly to criminalize Christianity so that they can they fight back against the persecution of the church, and cooperating with scientists to create blasphemous human/donkey hybrids that they can have rounded up and executed.

I mean, why not go all the way? Am I right?

Tags: David Vitter, Health Care, House of Representatives, Jason Chaffetz, Jeb Hensarling, Jim DeMint, Lynn Jenkins, Senate

Should Carrie Prejean Run as a Republican for Congress? Sure, Why Not?

Here's how stars are made in today's Republican Party…

TMZ spoke with Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) who tells us he thinks Prejean could be a serious contender in the political arena:

"[Carrie] has the ability to draw crowds and if she has a strong message to go with that, who knows what she can do? She has star power which can open doors."

That's some high regard you hold your job in Rep. Chaffetz.

In all seriousness, though, could she possibly be any worse than Michele Bachmann?

Tags: California, Carrie Prejean, House of Representatives, Jason Chaffetz, Utah

Colbert Report Outtakes: Stephen Grooves with Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Gives Him a Facial

In these exclusive outtakes from The Colbert Report, Stephen graciously offers Jason Chaffetz — the freshman Congressperson from Utah — a facial with his own skin care product…

.
And then the two get down with the soulful sounds of "Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)" on Rock Band

.
xxx

Tags: House of Representatives, Jason Chaffetz, Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, Utah