Hunter Is One of Top Users of Free Postage Privileges in the Congress

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Coronado) ranked as one of the top three congressmen in sending out taxpayer-supported newsletters during the first three months of the year, according to a report released Monday by a national taxpayers group.

Another member of the California delegation, Rep. John Doolittle (R-Rockland), was rated the No. 1 mailer, spending $184,004. Hunter, one of seven Californians among the top 50 users of the congressional franking privilege, came in third with $125,212 in postal expenditures.

The report, compiled by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, said lawmakers’ use of the free mailing privilege jumped 83% since the first quarter last year, spurred by spring primary elections.

“It’s an election year franking frenzy,” said James Davidson, chairman of the foundation.

A Hunter aide said Monday that the first-quarter mailings were nothing out of the ordinary.

“We didn’t send out any more than we usually do,” said press secretary Patrick J. Buechner.

Because regulations prohibit franked mailings any closer than 60 days before an election, Hunter sent out his normal number of newsletters, but they were bunched over a shorter period, Buechner said. The California primary was June 2, which the six-term congressman won with 60% of the vote.

The district-wide mailings included a regular newsletter, a federal budget report and a schedule of town hall meetings. Several other franked mailings went out to smaller audiences on narrower issues, said Buechner.

Also included in the quarterly franking expenses are 800 to 1,000 letters responding to constituent questions, Buechner said.

The franking privilege has long been seen by critics as an unfair political weapon held by incumbents. Although subject to an array of restrictions to keep it nonpolitical, use of the frank usually rises dramatically in election years.

Reforms passed in 1990 tighten definitions of “frankable” mail and limit the amounts members may spend annually. But the practice still gives office-holders a huge edge.

“The typical incumbent spends more on taxpayer-funded mailings than the average challenger spends on his entire election campaign,” said Davidson.

The tax foundation bases its ratings on the postage cost divided by the number of addresses in the district. Using “conservative” estimates, the foundation computes the number of pieces of mail each member sends out and the pieces per address.

Hunter was estimated to have sent out 923,867 pieces of franked mail, translating into 3.3 pieces per address. Doolittle sent out nearly 1.4 million pieces of mail, for 4.4 pieces per address.

Over the last 15 months, Hunter is rated 66th on the basis of per-address cost, according to the foundation. Rep. Bill Lowery (R-San Diego) is rated 97th; Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham (R-San Diego) 252nd; Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) 286th.