Clearly it is election time once more. I have suddenly become quite popular with my congressman. He has written me twice in the last two weeks. The first time, he was kind enough to ask for my opinion about ”issues.” The second time, he was so thoughtful to tell me some of the things he`s been up to on my behalf.
One question Phil Crane did not ask on his questionnaire, however, is how I feel about a member of Congress using mailing privileges in an effort to increase his sagging popularity among voters right before an election.
Had he asked, my response would have been disapproving. I think it is wrong for the taxpayer to have to pay for mass mailings used for the sole purpose of keeping incumbents in power. This is an abuse of the people`s trust.
The abuse of the franking privilege is one of many reasons we are all desperate for a change in Congress. We already subsidize meals, travel, haircuts and even manicures for our congressmen. These privileges they grant to themselves.
We should not allow our taxpayer dollars to be used so unabashedly to pay for Crane`s campaign expenditures too. These expenditures should be paid for by the few supporters he has remaining.
