A recent Meadowlark article asked whether Congressman Dennis Moore would exploit a one-day window to send mail on Aug. 6 to constituents in the 3rd Congressional District paid for by taxpayers. Apparently, that franking window was a bit too narrow in 2008, and Congressman Moore did not send such a mailing. But, what about Moore’s franked pieces in 2006, 2004, and 2002 sent out just over 90 days before elections?
In Aug 2006 after the August 2006 primary, Congressman Moore sent at least TWO mailings that were “prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense” just days before the Aug 9, 2006 deadline for free mail before the November general election. These TWO mailings were sent at taxpayer expense even though Congressman Moore had nearly $1 million in his campaign account at the end of June 2006! Moore had sent similar franked pieces paid for by taxpayers before the August Primary in 2004 and 2002.
The Meadowlark intended to investigate how all Kansas House members in Congress used franking over the last three election cycles, but the Clerk of the U.S. House wants an average citizen to go to Washington, DC to see such information!
On June 4 of this year, the Meadowlark sent a snail mail request to the Legislative Resource Center, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC:
How can I order all the franked material disclosure documents filed by House members from Kansas over the last six years? Specifically, I’d like to order all franked material disclosures by these Kansas House members:
Congressman Jerry Moran (1st District) from 2002-2008
Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (2nd District) from 2007-2008
Congressman Jim Ryun (2nd District) from 2002-2007
Congressman Dennis Moore (3rd District) from 2002-2008
Congressman Todd Tiahrt (4th District) from 2002-2008Please tell me what forms I must file and what payment is necessary.
When there was no reply to this letter, the Meadowlark followed up on Aug 1 with a phone call to the Legislative Resource Center. Perhaps Capitol security is still processing this letter from June, but a response was never received.
When told on the phone the records could only be seen in Washington, DC, the Meadowlark protested and asked who was responsible for that decision. That phone call was then transferred to a phone recording device, and the recorded request for an explanation was ignored.
On Aug 10 an E-mail was sent to the Legislative Resource Center asking again why citizens had to go to Washington, DC to review such franking records. Here is part of the reply:
... Our office provides self-serve access to public disclosure records of the U.S. House of Representatives. All files created January 3, 1996, and after are available for public review and photocopying. These files also include materials that incurred printing costs but are not mass mailings such as, posters, congratulatory letters, etc.
Unfortunately, the Legislative Resource Center (LRC) cannot process your request for in-house assistance at this time. If you wish to review these files, please feel free to visit our office located in B-106 of the Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. The LRC is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Photocopies are ten cents per page.
…
Legislative Resource Center
Office of the Clerk
U.S. House of Representatives
The Office of the Clerk did mention in their E-mail response that some federal depository libraries may have some information about franking:
… all expenses, including franked mail expenses by office, are reported quarterly and publicly disclosed through the Statement of Disbursements publication. Although these reports are not available online, a Federal Depository Library in your area should be able to help you access these reports.
Possibly some of the franking information may be available in one of the 18 selective federal depository libraries in Kansas. Why in 2008 are these franking records not automatically put online for all to see?
Why is the U.S. House not being sincere in providing freedom of information about the taxpayer dollars spent before the elections on mailings that look like campaign pieces?
The Meadowlark doesn’t fly to Washington, DC very often, but during a DC trip in May the Meadowlark attempted to review IRS non-profit records at the IRS Freedom of Information Reading Room at 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. But the IRS said one had to order the records from Ogden, UT and wait for them to be delivered to the reading room in DC. In this case, going to DC doesn’t help in reviewing Freedom of Information Act records. The records that I wanted to review had already been requested from the IRS in Ogden, UT on April 10, and the IRS still hasn’t processed that request from April! But at least a DC trip isn’t needed to review those IRS 990s.
Meanwhile in Kansas, both the Senate Democratic leader, Anthony Hensley, and House Democratic leader, Dennis McKinney, wasted tax dollars for unusual taxpayer-funded mailings near the end of the legislative session, which were intended to re-elect incumbent Democrats in the Kansas legislature.
Why do we tolerate such waste of tax dolloars?
Related:
- Will Dennis Moore exploit one-day franking window to mail to his district for free?, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 5, 2008.
- State Rep Rardin’s FOURTH franked piece to kick-start his re-election campaign, Kansas Meadowlark, June 8, 2008.
- Congressman Dennis Moore’s chief of staff may have violated E-mail rules. Moore franking abuse too?, Kansas Meadowlark, May 27, 2008.
- Update on Franking Abuse by Kansas Senate Minority Leader Hensley: $53,564 on 161,277 franked pieces, Kansas Meadowlark, May 7, 2008.
- Franking Abuse by Kansas Democratic Legislative Leadership, Kansas Meadowlark, April 17, 2008.
- Dennis Moore’s Abuse of Franking Privilege: “This mailing was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense” even though Moore has almost $1,000,000 in campaign cash in the bank, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 6, 2006.
- Congressman Moore’s Abuse of Franking Privilege?, Kansas Meadowlark, May 4, 2004.
Updates:
- Legislative Mailings - Stamp it out, Topeka Capital-Journal, Aug 19, 2008.
- GOP questions large mailings by Sen. Hensley: Democrats’ constituents recipients of cards, letters, Topeka Capital-Journal, Aug 17, 2008.
Tags: Anthony Hensley, Congressional Frank, Congressman Dennis Moore, Dennis McKinney, Freedom of Information (FOIA), U.S. Government, U.S. House Legislative Resource Center
August 27th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Would you please ask for information from all of the office holders. As it is it appears as though you are ignoring any Republican generated frankings and in the equal review of records it would only be fair - right ?
August 27th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Please re-read the article. My request for information was for all U.S. Representatives from Kansas for the last six years. ALL.