YOUR TAX $$$ AT WORK

Congressman and candidate for governor John James (R) came in for criticism in late May and early June for his use of taxpayer funds to promote himself outside of his 10th district in violation of House rules on use of what is known as the franking privilege. Former Plymouth police chief Carl Berry, who lives in the congressional district served by Democrat Debbie Dingell, filed a formal complaint with the U.S. House Committee on House Administration, charging James used taxpayer funds for a You Tube ad that appeared in a number of districts beyond the district for James. The response from James office was basically that a third party vendor had in error scheduled the ad to reach a market of 450,000 persons rather than restricting the online promotion to the 250,000 persons in his congressional district. The formal response from the office of James was that the vendor was not paid for the larger distribution and future ads were being contained to abide by House rules. The rules violation by James became fodder for a number of critics, including gubernatorial hopeful Mike Cox (R), whose office issued a release saying: “Federal franking rules are clear - taxpayer-funded communications are intended to serve constituents, not to promote political ambitions or reach voters outside a member’s district.” The complaint about use of the federal franking privilege by members of Congress is nothing new. Detroit Congressman Shri Thanedar has been criticized for using franking for billboards along the Detroit area freeways and for television ads promoting the amount of pork he has brought back to his district. Thanedar broadcast commercials have been appearing in past weeks in the Detroit market. Use of franking is not restricted to members of Congress. Michigan lawmakers also have use of franking as evidenced by a mailing in May from state Senator Mallory McMorrow who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township. None of McMorrow’s opponents in the race have made the franking mail piece an issue.