So for the past couple of weeks, our congressman Paul Broun has been sending out letters to his constituents spouting something that he is supporting or not supporting or whatever. I will admit I rarely get past the first line because I just know it’s going to be something I probably disagree with and I don’t see the reason to get aggravated while I am trying to relax at home. So those letters usually end up in the shredder along with the rest of my junk mail.
But maybe I am just bitter because NOT ONE of these letters my congressman has sent was actually addressed to me. They have come to “Annmarie Miani” or “Ann Miani.” I personally don’t know who these women are, but I wish they would stop using my street address because I get a lot of credit card offers for them, too.
But seriously, who else out there is sick of Broun’s constant stream of form letters basically saying “LOOK AT ME I AM DOING SOMETHING!!”
- Ann Marie Miani's blog
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Straight into the recycling
I don't even open them. But not only do I get them, but my wife gets them and my two stepsons - both away at school - get them. What a waster of paper and franking.
One week the same letter
One week the same letter came to me twice addressed to two "different" people. It was just my name spelled two different ways.
Does the man have nothing better to do??
broun letters
Ann Marie,
We are sorry our congressional office got your name(s) wrong. Know that we are trying our best to keep in touch with people throughout the district. Often times, citizens feel that their elected officials are doing nothing, and Congressman Broun wants to make sure folks here in the 10th know that he is busy working for them and keeping his promises. He has an incredible work ethic.
He is not wasting your money either. He sleeps on the floor in his office, and does as much as he can to save.
Please let us know how you would like to receive your mail and we will make sure to get it changed on whatever list we happen to be drawing off of.
Kindly,
Tim Echols
Press Secretary for the Campaign
PS You should have received 5 different letters on 5 different issues this Spring.
According to the editorial
According to the editorial in Monday's Athens Banner-Herald, a study from the Congressional Research Service says the franking that Rep. Broun is doing does cost the taxpayers.
"It’s not hard to understand why Broun has opted to use this considerable perquisite of holding congressional office — collectively, congressional franking costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually, according to a recent Congressional Research Service study — in this election year."
And the fact that he has sent five different letters is actually a waste of money. I don't see why all five points couldn't have been made in one letter. Even if said letter was two or three pages long, it would have been a more economical use of the time and money of everyone involved. And it would have been less work on my shredder.
A copy editor's best friend is brevity. Maybe Broun should hire one so he doesn't waste anymore of his constituents' time.
And if you have been reading our newspaper, you will see I am not the only one who thinks this. We have had several letters to the editor saying the phone calls and mailings are nothing more than a nuisance.
Straight to the file
I have a special place for Dr. Broun's letters too. I call it my "Ethics Complaint File"
Dr. Broun is really showing his true colors by using taxpayer money to prop up his under-funded campaign. Dr. Broun is not saving the taxpayers any money by sleeping in his office since representatives do not get a housing allowance. Housing is to be paid by the representatives out of their own funds (But I'm sure Mr. Echols knew that already). It's funny how "conservative" Dr. Broun becomes with his own money.
Why doesn't somebody file a
Why doesn't somebody file a complaint, if y'all are so ticked off about it?
The Committee on House Administration runs a bipartisan franking commission that signs off on all the mail pieces sent out by congressmen. The Web site is http://cha.house.gov/franking.aspx
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Broun STOP THE MAIL AND THE CALLS!!!!!!
1 million tax dollars to harass the voters with letter after letter and endless robo calls is abuse no matter how you look at it there is no excusefor it.We are being forced to contribute to his campaign whether we chose to or not.
I went to a so called town hall meeting held by Broun and he only wanted to answer pre-rehearsed questions.I understand he don't want to allow any of his opponents to ask questions of him during future debates, only his preapproved questions.I don't know about you, but I want a congressman that will answer questions off the cuff from the public as well as from his opponents.What is he hiding? If he has been honest and has a good explanation for his actions he should not be opposed to answering any questions from his constituates or his opponents in any public forum.
I voted for Broun and am now having deep regrets. I'm not going to deny it he was very convincing when he quoted scripture and waved the constitution around. After all the hokus pokus had waned and I looked past the rehtoric and the claims that everything in America is unconstitutional (except for Broun's exceptions) I found I had cast my vote for an illusion that continously disappoints me.
Where do you get the $1
Where do you get the $1 million figure?
Solutions abound
Might I recommend that Broun's office redirect to mailing to email accounts or otherwise solicited outlets. Broun can take advantage of the ABH's editorial pages weekly to reach a verifiable audience, or consult with local non-profits about distributing notes of his activities in their newsletters.
In any event, the letters are clearly a waste of resources if only because of the many alternatives. I, for one, appreciate that my congressman is trying to keep me appraised of his activities. However, this well-intentioned gambit needs some more thought.
Nam sine doctrina vita ist quasi mortis imago
I am pretty sure that was
I am pretty sure that was the problem most people had with these mailings, but thankfully they have stopped. It's nice to know what our congressmen are up to (or at least say they are up to) but you're right there were much better ways to go about it.