RogerRabbit
Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined: 05 Sep 2004
Posts: 748
Location: Oregon
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject: To be frank, reps' check is in the mail |
 |
|
http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=79928
| Quote: | To be frank, reps' check is in the mail
By Noelle Straub
Sunday, April 24, 2005
WASHINGTON - Bay State congressmen spent nearly $218,000 in taxpayer funds to send mass mailings to constituents in 2004, using public money to mail largely self-promotional materials to potential voters in an election year.
U.S. Rep. John Olver (D-Amherst) last year spent nearly $45,000 in taxpayer dollars on mailings to constituents, a practice known as ``franking.''
Olver, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, sent out one newsletter with a two-page glossy map of his district showing about 30 projects the panel funded ``at my request.''
The map noted $3.5 million in federal earmarked funds for Pioneer Valley bike paths, $13.4 million for Route 2 safety improvements and $8.8 million for the Pittsfield Intermodal Transportation Center.
Responding to questions with a written statement, Olver said such newsletters ``serve a very useful purpose in that they are a fairly reliable avenue for members of Congress to communicate with their constituents'' and educate them on lawmakers' positions on issues and congressional happenings.
Though politicians say franking simply allows them to keep the public informed, watchdog groups criticize the practice as providing incumbents a publicly funded advantage over opponents who must pay to get the same publicity.
``There are plenty of rules surrounding content and use ofthe frank, but they still allow the incumbent to gain an upper hand over a challenger in terms of establishing a public image, and they can do so at taxpayer expense,'' said Peter Sepp, spokesman for the National Taxpayers Union.
Spending nearly $49,000 in 2004, U.S. Rep. John Tierney (D-Salem) led the delegation in franking.
Among the newsletters Tierney sent, one was titled ``Congressional Happenings - Working for You in Washington'' and another ``Working for Veterans and Military Families.''
The newsletters announced meetings in his district but also touted his work on issues including jobs, education and health care.
Tierney and several other Bay State lawmakers also sent U.S. Capitol Historical Society calendars stamped with their name to constituent n a written statement, Tierney said his job is to keep constituents informed. ``My office uses a portion of our budget to answer constituent letters, alert residents to public meetings and to provide information on issues such as Social Security, education and health care,'' he said.
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) spent the third most of the delegation on franking, at just over $35,000.
One newsletter he sent featured pictures of him meeting with local officials, first responders and U.S. troops with headlines such as ``Congressman Lynch Continues Commitment to First Responders'' and ``Lynch Helps to Secure Body Armor for American Troops.''
Lynch said he spends less on franking than most congressmen, saying the average spent is about $42,500 and that one Virginia lawmaker spent more than $188,000.
``There's a job we have to do,'' Lynch said. ``If we didn't communicate to constituents, that would be malpractice.''
U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville) spent the least of the delegation on mailings at just over $4,000, while U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Malden) spent about $4,500. |
_________________
"Si vis pacem, para bellum" |
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
