Push to clean clutter creates a new mess

Lawmakers from both parties are unhappy with a new rule requiring the removal of signs honoring fallen soldiers or highlighting other issues from hallways outside their offices.

Some are bristling at the order, and say they won’t take down the signs willingly.

{mosads}“They’ll have to come and take it down themselves,” said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), who, like many of his fellow Blue Dog Democrats, has a sign on the fiscal deficit outside his office.

Charts highlighting the growing national debt or honoring military personnel serving in foreign wars are a common sight in the hallways outside House offices. But under a new rule issued by Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dan Beard, they all must be removed.

Beard, who was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), issued the requirement at the beginning of May, and gave members three months to remove items from in front of their offices.

The policy, which relates to all hallway material, including electronic kiosks, easels and floor-mounted flags, was issued in response to concerns that cumbersome hallway items could cause problems in the event of an evacuation. The new rule is also intended to bring the House into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

After the three-month transition period, any remaining items in the hallways will be removed without notice by the CAO. Items will be held for three days before they are thrown out.

Pomeroy said the CAO should make an exception for the easels honoring dead military servicemen and -women.

“I feel particularly bad for those who have to take down the posters of the guys who lost their lives in Iraq,” Pomeroy said. “In my opinion, we want to honor our fallen heroes in every way. That’s the sort of thing that should continue, so if they were to have one exception, that would be it.”

The CAO so far is not budging. While sympathizing with the desire to honor military men and women, a spokesman for the office said it is still necessary to remove the posters from the hallways.

“While we recognize the meaning and significance of the easels honoring our fallen servicemen and -women in Iraq and Afghanistan, we would hope that members also recognize the very real need to keep our hallways safe for disabled persons,” said Jeff Ventura, spokesman for the CAO. He suggested that members move the displays into their offices.

While the GOP held the House majority in September 2004, Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) were asked to remove hallway military memorials. Both Emanuel and Jones refused to take them down.

Democratic Caucus Chairman Emanuel still has 27 easels bearing posters of fallen troops outside his office. A spokesman for Emanuel said the office would comply with the role.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said the rule is an attempt by Democratic leaders to silence dissent. Issa has a sign in front of his office criticizing the MoveOn.org advertisement in The New York Times.

That controversial ad featured a picture of Gen. David Petraeus with the words “General Betray Us?” underneath.

“This is yet another move to silence dissent by Speaker Pelosi,” said Frederick Hill, spokesman for Issa.

Other members with hallway displays, while grumbling about the rule, said they understood the intent. Rep. Gene Taylor (Miss.), another Blue Dog Democrat, said he knows from experience how hard it is to maneuver during an emergency if clutter is in the way. He had to escape from his brother’s house a few years ago after it was struck by lighting and caught fire.

Still, he said he was quite upset when he was ordered to remove a bench outside his office that had been a gift from the Navy.

Flags will also have to be removed if they are standing on poles outside a member’s office. However, members who wish to keep flags outside their offices can have the House install wall-mounted flag holders.

But there’s a limit. Offices can only have three wall-mounted flags apiece.