Election Franking A Crime? — The Pennsylvania House State Government Committee, March 23, unanimously gave its OK to House Bill 2271 that would make it a criminal offense for a legislator to mail tax-funded pieces within 60 days of an election in which the legislator is a candidate for public office.
State House and Senate rules now prohibit the practice and they are generally followed but the act is not yet criminal. The bill would subject a transgressor to “a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than one year or both”.
The bill was introduced by State Rep. Matthew Bradford (D-70) which is in Montgomery County.
So kudos for a rare bit of commonsense from a Democrat. Still, you really have to wonder why our legislators at whatever level still have franking privileges in this day of much more efficient mass communication.
But if that should be too radical, it seems that rather than a prohibition about mailing 60 days before an election, limiting legislative mailings to two weeks after the general and primary elections would be much more effective on cutting down insincere love notes from a group known for their ability to look after number 1.
Do you really, really think they care whether we have a “happy holiday” or not?
HB 2271 now goes before the House Appropriations Committee.
Hat tip to GrassrootsPa.com
