Grayson Launches ‘Names of the Dead’ Website

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) is causing a stir on the House floor again, but this time it’s a poster, not his words, that have Republicans screaming.

Grayson brought a poster to the floor Wednesday afternoon emblazoned with “NamesOfTheDead.com” – a Web site he launched with personal funds to memorialize those who perished from lack of health care. The site allows the visitor to fill out a form with the name of a loved one – and their personal story.

But site contains a link to his campaign Web site, raising the question of whether it could be considered a contribution to his re-election effort. A spokesman for Grayson said the House majority leader’s office OK’ed the poster. But Republican operatives were also quick to raise ethics questions, saying it is improper to speak about a Web site on the House floor that has a link to a campaign site, which is used to solicit funds.

Read more: (Jake Sherman, “Grayson unveils ‘NamesofTheDead.com’,” Politico, 10/21/09)