Brian Davis on Franking Privileges

Yesterday morning, before a round of golf, I caught CD 1 GOP Congressional Candidate Brian Davis on Between the Lines with Al Travis.

Many issues were discussed during the interview.

Travis asked Davis about the fundraising disparity between Congressman Walz and candidates Davis and Day.

9:00 into the video:

Davis: "Money doesn't buy elections. Ah, it does buy media coverage. But you know what, also, its a reflection on the fact that there is a lot of money coming outside, coming from outside of Minnesota and outside of the First District, to buy this seat.

"This seat is not for sale, they can see through a lot of this".

Take a look at Davis' FEC reports. In his 2007 Year End Report, about 25% of contributions for Davis for Congress came within the 1st CD. More than 50% of contributions came from outside of Minnesota.

In the most recent FEC report, Davis had a grand total of 3 contributors from the 1st CD, less than 19%.

The rhetoric from Davis falls short here.

The vast majority of Davis' contributions have come from outside the 1st CD and Minnesota.

10:30 into video:

Travis: I use mail envy, here...I got the Brian Davis flyer sent to my house, I'm a First District guy. But you're being outmailed my friend.

Davis: That's true, that's true you know, but you know where that mail comes from? That mail comes from the US taxpayers, its something a Congressman gets, its called a franking privilege. And that's hundreds of thousands of dollars. I think one of the first things I want to do when I get to Congress is to reevaluate that. Is that a wise use of taxpayer dollars? It comes across as though its public service but you know you see a lot of pictures of the person who is running. I'm not just saying its the current Congressman in our district, it happens all across the country. But is that a wise use of taxpayer dollars? I'm not sure about that.

Travis: So, you plan is to go up against the mailings, the million dollars, I mean, how do I put this...what's going to make you stand out? What's the thing that makes people say wow?

Davis: I'm going to work very hard, I have been working hard. We have all sorts of parades this summer...

Ok, enough! Check out the rest of the video here. We'll continue to fisk Davis' positions on oil prices, healthcare, education, immigration, etc.

Back to the "franking privilege" bit from Davis.

Karl Bremer wrote an interesting story about the franking privileges of Minnesota's Congressional delegation.

Based on those reports, the cost for Bachmann's first mass mailing last year was 46 cents apiece for printing and postage -- more than double the 22 cents apiece mailings for Walz and Ramstad cost and significantly higher than Ellison's per-piece cost of 28 cents.

The biggest difference was in the production costs of the mailings. Bachmann spent a total of $32,589 with The Franking Group for mass mailings totaling 136,465, for a production cost of 24 cents each -- far beyond what her colleagues in either party spent.

Ellison spent $31,358 with Gold Communications for mass mailings totaling 265,522 - a production cost of just 12 cents apiece.

Walz' figures show only $2,210 spent on printing production of 101,017 pieces for a meager production cost of two cents each.

Ramstad paid Catterton Printing $15,295 for mass mailings totaling 300,017 -- a production cost of only 5 cents each.

Did Davis take a shot at Congresswoman Bachmann? After she endorsed him?

Bachmann spent a lot of money on her Davis labeled "taxpayer funded" campaign lit pieces.

Walz actually returned $100,000 back to the US Treasury in unused funds for his Congressional office!

We're glad to see Davis running on issues he can win on though! Going after Congressman Walz's fundraising, when being out raised 10-1 is interesting. Attacking Walz when the majority of Davis' campaign funds come from outside of the "Fighting First" and CD 1 is desperation.

The use of franking privileges is a part of constituent outreach. For Congresswoman Bachmann, IT IS constituent outreach.

Congressman Walz has held committee meetings in the 1st, countless open forums, townhall meetings, and other visits across the 1st. He is a Congressman that is accessible to his constituents. Spending $2200 on mail back to the district, twice the amount Davis paid a liberal blogger, is far from wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

It's part of a comprehensive constituent outreach program.

That's not wasteful spending...

Bachmann GI Bill Video

Muse beat me to it again!

Congresswoman Bachmann's vote on the new GI Bill is disturbing for this Veteran.

I joined the Army in 1990. The education benefits were a key reason for my enlistment. Instead of leaving at the end of my first 4 year enlistment, I raised my right hand 4 times and pledged an oath of service to this country, like millions of other Americans. My oath was to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. My oath was a pledge to follow the orders of those appointed over me and the President of the United States.

When I took that oath, 4 times, I, like many other Veterans, trusted that our country would take care of us, should anything bad happen to us. We would have access to our rightfully earned benefits.

In 2001, I left active duty to seek a college education. From the time I started at St Cloud State University and the time I received my first GI Bill benefits check, was 6 months. It was a constant stress with lost paperwork in St Louis and other bureaucratic problems. While the first GI Bill deposit I received, in 2002 was a sizable deposit, working things out with the University was tough.

Working nearly full time while going to school (taking 15 credits) and waiting for my rightfully earned benefits was tough. My story is not rare.

Access to Veterans benefits is important. Enhancing the GI Bill one facet of Veterans benefits. Congresswoman Bachmann's vote against Veterans benefits and the GI Bill is disgusting, in my eyes.

Her constant lip service to Veterans is disrespectful.

Her record on higher education and Veterans issues is horrible.

Does Franken Get It?

The past several days have been pretty interesting, watching a lot of traffic come in from Minnesota Democrats Exposed and Christopher Truscott.

Some have chided Chris and I for our posts on Al Franken, asking for a scenario in which another Democrat emerges from Rochester as the DFL endorsed candidate for US Senate to run against Norm Coleman.

So we're looking for a scenario here right? With Franken's baggage, I think the delegates need to see a scenario in which Franken can overcome his self inflicted political wounds to defeat Norm Coleman.

Unfortunately, being DFL Endorsed will not be enough. He'll need to have the ability to reach out to moderate and independent voters. Having called Senator Coleman one of President Bush's "butt boys".

As unpopular as President Bush is here in Minnesota, the name calling doesn't work. Ask Rudy Boschwitz and Mark Kennedy. Minnesotans don't buy that brand of politics.

I spent a lot of time talking to a DFL friend of mine about the Playboy issue.

Blueman is not a prude. Having served 11 years in the Army, I've heard a lot of crazy stories and seen even crazier stuff during my service. Franken's story, while edgy, was not highly offensive to me. Swiftee's comment at MDE, which Brodkorb took down, was more graphic.

Satire or not, the excuse has been overused and frankly, is getting old.

Franken's Playboy mansion fundraiser this week is more problematic. Many have defended Playboy as a fairly non-offensive smut magazine. I thought so too before my friendly discussion. My friend unlocked some parental controls on their television and pulled up Playboy TV.

Apparently, there is some pretty tawdry stuff at Playboy TV, including a "reality TV show" called Foursome in which couples, um...hook up. My friend went on to describe some other explicit programming. We're naive to think that Playboy is merely a magazine now. Look at the TV show "Girls Next Door".

Playboy a pornography empire.

A Franken fundraiser at a Chicago Playboy mansion is tough to swallow for a progressive, feminist Democrat.

How did that discussion go down in the office? Surely they knew this would garner some negative attention.

I don't want to hear the argument that Obama and Clinton did this too. Three wrongs don't make a right. It's absolutely wrong.

Hell, we were up in a tizzy over Governor Pawlenty's sex-less sex scandal!

The Startribune has failed as well, putting the press back in suppression.

While the Franken Playboy story filled the Strib, an equally troubling matter, the story on Coleman's DCI bloodmoney, has died. Coleman should do the right thing, donate the contributions to a charity.

Franken's tax problems, satire, and other political missteps will impact his chances in November. Mike Ciresi, who left the US Senate race 2 months ago, trailed Franken by 1% in a recent poll?

Jack Nelson Pallmeyer is peaking at the right time. Beyond his progressive values and his work in the US Senate race, JNP has dominated in debates. He's fully capable of defeating Norm Coleman in November, if given the opportunity.

This Playboy thing really bugs me. It really makes me question whether or not Franken really "gets it"?

Democrats Work: Ashwin and Elwyn

Muse beat me to the punch!

I'm a little disappointed that Steve Sarvi did not make General Clark's list.

Here in Minnesota, we have a choice of two candidates.

Ashwin Madia in CD 3, our newest Progressive Patriot!

Elwyn Tinklenberg in CD 6, endorsed by the Blue Dog Democrats.

Go here to vote!

We have until May 30.

McCain's Straight Talk Express Derailed?

A Bravenew Films endeavor.