More Tea Party hypocrisy

Franking Privilege Exploited By Tea Party Incumbents

The Huffington Post | By Nate Willis 

Updated: 06/19/2012 6:47 pm

Freshman GOP lawmakers have decried runaway government spending, but they're still willing to use their taxpayer-funded postage privileges to send mail to constituents.

Critics of the "franking privilege" argue that it helps keep incumbents in their seats at cost to the taxpayer, since lawmakers can use it to send election materials. Frankable items include correspondence, press releases and questionnaires.

Tea Party-aligned representatives have been vocal against this type of frivolous government spending. But now that they're in office during an election year, it seems their tune is starting to change, at least when it comes to postage.

According to the News Press, freshman GOP House members comprise eight of the top 10 and 18 of the top 25 lawmakers spending the most on franking: "Republicans Joe Heck of Nevada ($319,251), Bobby Schilling of Illinois ($293,021) and Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee ($282,385) topped the list."

(More here.)