Noem Pretends Law Prohibits Her Answering Constituent Question on Facebook

Last May, Kristi Noem threw her official Facebook page, the one where we could expect updates on her work in Congress, down the memory hole. A Noem aide told David Montgomery that it "makes sense to only have one" Facebook page.

Never mind that, as an eager reader pointed out in May, Rep. Noem maintains two Twitter accounts (RepKristiNoem and KristiNoem) and two YouTube accounts (RepKristiNoem and KristiforCongress). I guess one has to cut back somewhere.

The one Facebook page Noem kept is her tedious "KristiforCongress" account, where she subjects us to the usual Facebook fare of family photos, although in this case with the unavoidable subtext of, "My family and I are so darn sweet! Don't think about policy! Just vote for me!"

I'm not the only one wishing for a more substantive use of social media from our lone Congresswoman. Under a Saturday photo of Noem's older daughter and a new roping dummy, Diane Moen asks, "Mrs. Noem, could we now please have an update on what is happening in Congress?"

Mrs. Noem responds, "Diane: Reminder, this is a not an official congressional Facebook page and we are limited on what we can legally post."

Really? Those rules don't appear to stop Rep. Noem from using her unofficial Facebook account to revile the death tax, to update constituents on the farm bill, to criticize the IRS, or to promote the legislation on military sexual assaults that she got through committee. What rule keeps Noem (or another staffer whom we pay) from giving Diane an update she requests?

None.

Let's read the Members' Handbook from the Committee on House Administration. What does it say about members' Web activity?

In addition to their official HOUSE.GOV website, a Member may establish profiles, pages, channels or any similar presence on third-party sites that allow individuals or organizations to offer information about themselves to the public (Social Media Accounts). Member-controlled content on Social Media Accounts is subject to the same requirements as content on Member websites.

And what are the rules for Member websites?

The content of a Member's Website:

1. The official content of any material posted by the Member on any website must be in compliance with Federal law and House Rules and Regulations applicable to official communications and germane to the conduct of the Member's official and representational duties. Accessing a web site (whether by using a link or by other means) is to be treated as a "solicited communication" from a Member's office.
2. May not include personal (outside of incidental references), political party (except for political party affiliations), or campaign information.
3. May not include grassroots lobbying or solicit support for a Member's position.
4. May not generate, circulate, solicit, or encourage signing petitions.
5. May not include any advertisement for any private individual, firm, or corporation, or imply in any manner that the government endorses or favors any specific commercial product, commodity, or service.

#5 might call into question Rep. Noem's promotion of Jack Link's Jerky on her official Twitter account. If we stretch, #3 and #4 might call into question Rep. Noem's asking for citizen co-sponsors of legislation. But I don't see anything here that says Rep. Noem can't use any Facebook account, official or unofficial, to tell Diane and the rest of us, "Here's what happened in Congress this week."

If you don't want to talk about work on your Facebook page, that's fine. Even Kristi Noem is entitled to a little time away from the pressure cooker. But Rep. Noem, don't make up rules to excuse why you don't answer a constituent's question.