Why pay for your re-election campaign when you can arrange for the government to pay for it?

Franking privileges let lawmakers send letters, postcards or flyers through the mail (snail mail) without paying postage.

Historically, this “privilege” was so over-used by the U.S. Congress and state legislatures that it was restricted to “government business.” “Government business” covers a lot of territory.

Some congressmen, like former U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, R-Oklahoma, routinely sent out “public opinion surveys” to their constituents.  These surveys asked questions similar to: Am I doing a great job? Do you know I lowered your taxes? Do I need to continue protecting our children? Should I continue my fight to preserve Social Security? Do you think my work to help our veterans is a noble cause?

In other words, these are pointless questions designed to enhance the image of politicians to help them get re-elected. And they conveniently are sent around election time.

Franking is not illegal but it is unethical, especially from someone who is a self-proclaimed “fiscal conservative.” If they were truly conservative, they wouldn’t spend taxpayer funds to get votes. Franking is patently unfair because it gives no funding to challengers and favors incumbents.

Next time you get a flyer in the mail that praises an incumbent, check to see who paid for it. If it was the State of Oklahoma or the U.S. Congress, it must be franking.

And franking has been extended to radio commercials. But they by law must be tagged with who paid for it if it was the government.

Don’t vote for any politician who uses government funds to augment his campaign. It is an abuse of power.