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Associated Press - December 16, 2009 11:54 PM ET
PHOENIX (AP) - Gov. Jan Brewer has issued an executive order regarding the lawful celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah for many state employees while they're at work.
Brewer says any executive branch agency that reports to her cannot stop employees from personally celebrating either holiday. That includes putting items traditionally associated with Christmas and Hanukkah on their work desks.
Brewer also has barred those agencies from stopping state employees from wishing others either "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah."
The governor says some state and local officials in Arizona have attempted in past years to strip the holidays of their meaning.
Brewer's order issued Wednesday does not include the courts, the Legislature or agencies that have their own elected officials like the Arizona Corporation Commission or the Attorney General's Office.
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