Shea-Porter For Congress - Roll Call criticizes Guinta’s franked mailings

New Hampshire- Today, Naomi Andrews, Campaign Manager for Candidate and former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, issued the following statement about Frank Guinta’s franked mail spending.

“Congressman Frank Guinta’s spending on franked mail caught the attention of Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, yesterday.  Roll Call examined his campaign pledge to cut spending, and criticized him and the other top tea party spenders for both their spending and their hypocrisy about it. Roll Call cited Mr. Guinta along with three others, saying they “ended up using the franking system, often to circulate mailings that come off as more self-promotional than informational,” and went on to talk about Frank Guinta’s efforts to woo senior citizens. Mr. Guinta should be ashamed of himself and stop campaigning on our taxpayer money immediately.”

Background

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_153/A-Frank-Display-of-Congressional-Mail-215472-1.html

NHDP - New Spending Report Shows Guinta Continues to Lead Congress in Franking Charges

Candidate Guinta Attacked "Franking" Spending, Now a Franking Spendthrift

CONCORD - As reported in Roll Call today, Congressman Frank Guinta is continuing his hypocritical and wasteful spending in 2012, landing on the list of top ten highest spending users of taxpayer-funded mail in Congress. Guinta has spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on highly produced, campaign-style literature.   

"Another day, another report of Frank Guinta continuing his hypocritical and wasteful spending in Washington," said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.   "Frank Guinta has voted to turn Medicare into a "voucher plan" that will cost New Hampshire seniors more than $6,000 a year. Well, Frank Guinta should start by cutting his own spending."

According to Roll Call, Guinta was among the top 10 highest spending members of Congress on taxpayer-funded mail from April 2011 through March of this year.   Frank's spending shows no sign of slowing, as previous accounts show that Guinta also led his colleagues in spending on taxpayer-funded mail in 2011.

Less than two years ago Guinta was attacking other members of Congress for similar mailings.  In February 2008, the Union Leader declared the practice "offensive" and called on the members to apologize. 

In a June 9, 2010 statement, candidate Guinta promised to enact a reform of the franking system, calling the practice "electioneering." In 2008, then-GOP Party Chair Fergus Cullen also called out members of Congress for sending "politically-driven mail from their Federal congressional offices at taxpayer expense" not unlike what is currently arriving in 1st District mailboxes from Congressman Guinta.

"It is time for Frank Guinta to follow his own advice, the advice of his Party and of the Union Leader by returning the money that he is continuing to spend on these campaign materials to the taxpayers and issue a apology for running for re-election with their hard-earned money," said Buckley.

ALG - Upton Political Use of Taxpayer Dollars Comes Under Fire

May 24, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today sent a letter to the House Ethics Committee today questioning Michigan Representative Fred Upton's use of taxpayer paid franked mail to tout his political rating by a national association to his constituents.

Wilson's letter to House Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Jo Bonner stated, "I am confident that between the political campaign war chest that a powerful committee chairman can easily amass, and his own personal wealth, Mr. Upton could afford to pay for his own political direct mail without need of taxpayer assistance. Given this confidence, this mailing is all the more offensive, as it reveals Mr. Upton's sense of entitlement to the perks and benefits of office that are so repugnant to Americans across the political spectrum."

The letter is in response to a mlive.com news report that Upton has come under fire for a taxpayer funded letter targeting sportsmen in his district touting his rating by the pre-eminent gun rights organization in the world.

"This taxpayer funded campaign mailer is a callous abuse of the congressional franking system which is designed to let constituents know what is happening in Congress and how they are voting.  To cross the line by including political determinations by third party groups in the midst of a reelection campaign is a despicable abuse of power," Wilson continued.

The letter bringing the House's attention to the abuse was sent to all members of the House Ethics Committee as well as to House Speaker John Boehner.

Attachments:

Letter to House Committee on Ethics, Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson, May 24, 2012 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ethics-Letter-on-Upton-NRA-Mailing-5-24-12.pdf

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Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

NHDP -ICYMI: Guinta Reportedly Tops in U.S. House in 2011 Taxpayer-Funded Mailings Expenditures

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, UPDATE: "FRANKING" GUINTA. Republican Rep. Frank Guinta spent $164,629 on taxpayer-funded, or so-called "franked" mailings in 2011, which, according to a California newspaper, is tops in the U.S. House.

Guinta's chief of staff did not dispute the figure and said the freshman congressman has cut his office budget significantly, returned more than $50,000 to the Treasury and believes that "constituent service" is his top priority.

The Granite Status verified the figure, which is reported by the U.S. House on its web site in quarterly "statements of disbursement" and is also reported by a nonprofit watchdog group called the Sunlight Foundation.

Christine Bedell, government editor for the Bakersfield Californian newspaper, first reported that Guinta ranked first in franked mail spending. She said she sorted by amount the franked mail data provided in the congressional statements of disbursement and reported by the Sunlight Foundation and Guinta "came out on top."

U.S.Rep. Charlie Bass spent $22,344 on franked mail in 2011, ranking him at 202nd among 435 House members.

In 2010, Guinta criticized Democratic former congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter for sending out taxpayer-funded mailings that he said resembled campaign material.

"There is a thin line between maintaining a rapport with one's constituents and electioneering," then-candidate Guinta wrote on his campaign web site in 2010. "These pamphlets violate the idea of a 'Congressional Update,' and show an abuse of a representative's franking privileges."

Today, Guinta was criticized by state Democratic Party chairman Raymond Buckley.

"Frankly, Frank Guinta is hypocritical," Buckley said. "He is spending more than any other congressman in the nation and he is using taxpayer dollars to run for re-election."

"These are highly produced, campaign-style mailings that were prepared for and mailed at the taxpayer's expense. A practice that, before he went to Washington, be protested against."

He cited a mailer that was photographed and published on the pro-Democratic Blue Hampshire web site.

Buckley called on Guinta to "return the money he spent on these campaign materials to the taxpayers and issue an apology."

Guinta chief of staff Ethan Zorfas responded, "Congressman Guinta has cut his office's budget by 11.4 percent and, in addition, returned over $50,000 to the Treasury at the end of 2011.

"Constituent service will always be the congressman's top priority," said Zorfas. "Mailings are used for invitations to Job Fairs, Women's Conferences and Manufacturing Job Summits. The benefit to Granite Staters is apparent: increased communication with their government and lower operating expenses."  

Read the article here.

NHDP - Frank is Frankly Hypocritical On Franks

Guinta First-in-the-Nation in Franked Mail Spending

Guinta mailed campaign-style literature at taxpayer expense after railing 

against practice

Concord - Congressman Frank Guinta spent more taxpayer dollars on "franked" mailings, many of which are highly produced, campaign-style literature, than any other member of Congress in 2011. His hypocrisy is glaring, as he once railed against this practice that the Union Leader called "offensive."

"Frankly, Frank Guinta is hypocritical. He is spending more than any other Congressman in the nation and he is using taxpayer dollars to run for re-election," said Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "These are highly produced, campaign-style mailings that were prepared for and mailed at the taxpayer's expense. A practice that, before he went to Washington, be protested against."  

The Bakersfield Californian reported on April 15th that Guinta spent $164,650, more than any other member of Congress, on franked mail in 2011.

An example of Guinta's slick literature can be seen on the blog Blue Hampshire here.  

It was less than two years ago that Guinta was attacking other members of Congress for producing similar mailings.  In February 2008, the Union Leader declared the practice "offensive" and called on the members to apologize. 

In a June 9, 2010 statement, candidate Guinta promised to enact a reform of the franking system, calling the practice "electioneering." In 2008, then-GOP Party Chair Fergus Cullen also called out members of Congress for sending "politically-driven mail from their Federal congressional offices at taxpayer expense" not unlike what is currently arriving in 1st District mailboxes from Congressman Guinta.

"I certainly hope that Frank Guinta will follow his own advice, the advice of his Party and of the Union Leader by returning the money he spent on these campaign materials to the taxpayers and issue an apology," said Buckley.