House Bans ‘Lunatic’

Good thing there is no fiscal cliff or anything looming that might keep Congress busy or anything. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to ban the word “lunatic” in federal law—with just one congressman insisting the long outdated term still had uses today. Saying he doesn’t “have a problem” using the phrase, Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert said that lunatic “really has application” around Washington. “Lunatic” once was considered a legally acceptable term to describe the mentally ill, but is now considered demeaning. The House took similar measures two years ago when it took out all references to the phrase “mental retardation.”