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Congress unites against war on Christmas

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress returned to their districts for a long weekend with no resolution on a budget or immigration but before they left there was time for a final battle over Christmas.

Senators and representatives have been forbidden from using the words "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" in official letters for several decades.

However, despite heated arguments about hot issues like health care, members of Congress were united Thursday in the war on Christmas.

"I've always said Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah I never realized you weren't supposed to do that," said Rep.
Richard Hudson of North Carolina.

"I think it's a good rule change. Obviously we have a First Amendment right to express our religion," Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania said.

Others wondered why Congress isn't focused on more important things with a long Christmas break coming.

"We're getting ready to leave this town without having passed a defense authorization bill," Rep. Hank Johnson of DeKalb
County said. 

One thing that members of Congress can't do is send out Christmas cards on the taxpayer dime.

New rules apply only to regular letters where the topic has nothing to do with the holidays.