Franking is only one expense in the MRA Interesting article.
Question : How does Congresswoman Bachmann's MRA compare to the rest of the Minnesota delegation ?
NOTE from the PDF : In the House, the franked mail postage allowance is based on the number of addresses in each Member's district. Each Representative's mail allowance is combined with allowances for office staff and official office expenses to form a Member's Representational Allowance (MRA). Members may spend any portion of their MRA on franked mail, subject to law and House regulations. Within the limits of their MRA, House Members are not restricted as to the total amount they may spend on mass mailings.
The argument could be made that Bachmann is using mailings in lieu of other services ?
Walz has had regular "listening" sessions with in his district, so he may not "need" to spend monies on mailings ... while Bachmann may like the one-way approach of "telling" her constituents her view of the world.
Another question : have mailings also been done by other groups benefiting Congresswoman Bachmann ? Arena Communications, which does similar work as the Franking Group, lists doing work in behalf of Bachmann on their website..
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Question : How does Congresswoman Bachmann's MRA compare to the rest of the Minnesota delegation ?
NOTE from the PDF : In the House, the franked mail postage allowance is based on the number of addresses in each Member's district. Each Representative's mail allowance is combined with allowances for office staff and official office expenses to form a Member's Representational Allowance (MRA). Members may spend any portion of their MRA on franked mail, subject to law and House regulations. Within the limits of their MRA, House Members are not restricted as to the total amount they may spend on mass mailings.
The argument could be made that Bachmann is using mailings in lieu of other services ?
In 2007, the Member's Representational Allowance and was roughly $1.4 million. Congressman Walz will return approximately $100,000 in unspent funds from his 2007 congressional office budget to the U.S. Treasury.
Walz has had regular "listening" sessions with in his district, so he may not "need" to spend monies on mailings ... while Bachmann may like the one-way approach of "telling" her constituents her view of the world.
Another question : have mailings also been done by other groups benefiting Congresswoman Bachmann ? Arena Communications, which does similar work as the Franking Group, lists doing work in behalf of Bachmann on their website..