HeraldNet: No Nativity scene or Festivus pole at Capitol this year



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The Petri Dish

August 24, 2009

No Nativity scene or Festivus pole at Capitol this year

Posted at 3:28 pm by Jerry Cornfield

You will see a large holiday tree inside the state Capitol this Christmas season.

But you won’t be seeing anything else with a religious or nonreligious theme.

Today, the state Department of General Administration rejected requests from those seeking to place a Nativity scene, an atheist sign and a Festivus pole in the Capitol in December.

The state agency is in the process of writing permanent rules for use of the space. They decided they were needed because of the hullaballoo caused last year by an explosion of competing religious and nonreligious visuals.

Until those final guidelines are in place, they have come up with temporary ones.

"The interim policy does not permit the public to place displays and exhibits inside capitol buildings," wrote Visitor Services Manager Pattie Williams in the rejection letters sent out today.

"Because the policy does not permit public displays and exhibits inside capitol buildings, I am denying your request for a display in the Legislative Building. We will be happy to work with you regarding your options under the policy. Subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions, you may conduct a wide variety of expressive activities inside the Legislative Building, and you may be permitted to place displays and exhibits outside on the capitol grounds."

The state agency ban will remain in force until permanent guidelines are adopted. Draft rules are due out Sept. 2 with a hearing Sept. 22 and decisions maybe by the end of the year.

And what about the large holiday tree? For years, the Association of Washington Business took the lead in obtaining and installing it. So it should be gone, right?

Wrong.

General Administration will serve as the sponsor. The agency will work with the AWB in order to figure out how acquire it and put it in place.

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