TIL that members of Congress are allowed to use their franking privilege to buy TV ads:
Love a good franked TV ad that looks indistinguishable from a campaign spot and airs in the midst of a competitive election *just* until the blackout date 60 days before Nov. 5 -- this latest one from CA-13 Rep. John Duarte which cost $121,000 of taxpayer funds (per AdImpact). pic.twitter.com/ykENxt2vQt
— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) September 9, 2024
This is nothing new: Congress extended the franking privilege from mail to TV in 1972.¹ It's become a little more common lately because no one sends out mail anymore; they just blast out newsletters via email. This means they have more money available, and some members use it on TV spots.
Unlike mail, however, TV ads have to be paid for, and the money comes out of each member's office budget. This means there will never be very much of it and it will never be a big deal. Still, I had no idea this was a thing. Now I do.
¹I think? It's remarkably hard to pin down when Congress first allowed the frank to be used for broadcast communications.
I've never heard of franking.
In her book "Prequel", Rachel Maddow notes that in the late 30s several congressmen used their franking privilege to mail out propaganda for American Nazi sympathizers.
This brings back memories of the franking scandal that brought down Dan Rostenkowski. The much-heralded story of Democratic corruption (minor, in today's world) helped usher in the era of Newt Gingrich, and Congress (and our politics) has never been the same. Rostenkowski left office a disgraced figure, while the prosecutor, US Attorney Eric Holder, made a name for himself. Going after Dems has always been a popular sport, but later, as AG, Holder failed to hold GOP-ers accountable, sweeping under the carpet any corruption by the Bush-Cheney administration and likewise, virtually all of Wall Street after financial firms brought the world economy to its knees.
The double standard in prosecuting corruption has been around a long time.
Living in Michigan, those aren't potholes. If it won't cause a blowout of a normal sized sidewall tire, it doesn't count.
A road here a few years ago (about a half mile stretch) in the space of a week went from a few potholes scattered around to passable only by weaving and going less than 15 mph. Snow, thawing, freezing (repeatedly) and the pumping action of tires did its number really fast.
"...no one sends out mail anymore".
Tell me you don't live in a swing state without saying you don't live in a swing state.
I assure you, they are still sending mail out.