North Country Public Radio: In campaigns free "franked" mail is a big incumbent advantage

By Matt Laslo in Washington, DC

Watchdog groups say upstate New York lawmakers and lawmakers nationwide are blurring the line between their campaigns and official duties as representatives.

One problem is how lawmakers use taxpayer funds to communicate with voters.

To see what lawmakers send voters with your tax dollars you have to go to the basement of a House office building where photos are banned and only black and white copies leave the sparse room. The privilege of elected office is dubbed "franked mail," even though lawmakers now use it to buy Facebook, Twitter, and Google ads. Lawmakers are alerted each time a reporter, researcher or political opponent asks to see what they’ve sent voters.

LISTEN to LCB founder Matt Laslo’s original election feature at www.NorthCountryPublicRadio.org