House Reps Spent $20M on Mailings
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They sent nearly 116 million pieces of mail in all, many of them glossy productions filled with flattering photos and lists of the latest roads and bridges the lawmaker has brought home to the district, an Associated Press review of public records shows.
Some offered advice on topics one would more commonly expect to see in a consumer-advice column.
"Keep your car properly maintained" to improve mileage, suggested Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., in a newsletter on how to deal with rising energy prices.
Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., offered tips on home improvements.
And Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., who lost her primary race last year, sent out a taxpayer-funded newsletter a few months before the election that included this simple observation:
"Convicted felons can vote," she said, if "your" prison sentence has been served, parole or probation completed and fines paid. While campaigning, McKinney, who is black, noted that blacks make up a disproportionately large share of the prison population, which she said dilutes their voting strength.
A dozen House members spent more than $133,000 each to send 9.8 million pieces of mass mailings. Total cost? $1.8 million.
Sometimes the lawmakers' taxpayer funded mailings topped what they paid for direct mail through their campaign funds.
Of the 64 House members with at least $100,000 in taxpayer-funded mailing expenses and overwhelmingly for mass mailings 42 were Republicans and 22 were Democrats, the AP review found.
In sharp contrast, 59 lawmakers in the 435-member House 35 Republicans and 24 Democrats spent nothing on mass mailings. They tended to be the more experienced House members, often with 14 or more years of service.
Mass mailings cannot be blatantly political, but they still can have political benefits, said Pete Sepp, a spokesman for the National Taxpayers' Union, which has condemned mass mailings.
"A taxpayer-financed mailing doesn't have to say 're-elect me' to have an impact on voters," Sepp said. "A glossy newsletter splashed with the incumbent's achievements in Congress can build useful credentials a lawmaker can take with him to the ballot box. The franking privilege is one of the main cogs in Congress' PR machine."
Franking, practiced since the early days of the republic, lets members of Congress send mail with just a signature where the postage would normally be affixed. Although the mailings are regulated by a congressional commission to guard against overt political appeals and cannot go out within 90 days of an election, they still sometimes take a dig at the opposition.
In a June 2006 newsletter, Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., noted that under the Republican majority, Congress had passed tax cuts that "benefit the wealthiest Americans at the expense of working families."
Stark has been a regular among the biggest users of the congressional franking privilege. For 2006, his mass mailings alone cost $172,357, an amount large enough to rank him among the top congressional mailers. House documents reported his overall mailing costs to be about $37,000 less. The AP received no explanation for the apparent discrepancy from spokesmen for Stark, the House Administration Committee and House administration staff.
Some lawmakers defend the newsletters as a vital way of communicating with constituents.
"One of the biggest complaints my constituents had (with) my predecessor was that they never knew what was going on in Washington," said Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla. "They never had the opportunity to do surveys, etc. I promised I would communicate with them regularly."
Brown-Waite is one of the biggest users of bulk mail, with 657,951 pieces at a cost of $129,428 last year. That surpassed the approximately $110,000 her campaign spent on direct mailings and related costs.
One taxpayer-funded mailing featured a picture of her and the headline: "Medicare Prescription Drug Update: The Time to Act is Now." Another, entitled "Constituent Service Guide for the 5th District," included a survey and information about how to obtain U.S. flags, assistance from federal agencies and an appointment to a military academy.
The House Democratic Caucus encourages members to use the mailings to communicate with constituents, spokeswoman Sarah Feinberg said. She said it was a good way for congressmen to focus on an issue or, if survey questions are used, get a handle on what constituents are thinking.
That argument doesn't persuade Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., who said he has never used the mailings in 13 years in Congress. "It's a waste of taxpayers' money," he said. "I don't believe in this self-promotion."
LaHood argues that franking should be used only to answer constituent mail. He has repeatedly introduced bills to ban mass mailings and just as often the legislation dies in committee.
For the House and Senate combined, the cost of taxpayer-paid mailings, including mass mailings, letters to individuals and groups of up to 500 people, was $34.3 million for fiscal year 2006, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report. In 1988, before more restrictions were imposed on the use of mailings, the figure was more than three times larger, $113.3 million.
The biggest senders in the AP analysis included freshmen in tight re-election fights and veterans who coasted to victory.
Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., had the most pieces of mass mailings: 1,257,972. His mass mailings' cost of $171,286 was among the highest in the House, as was the overall cost of his franked mail, at $177,706.
Murphy, who advised constituents to maintain cars, was one of the House leaders in sending out bulk mail, with 1,003,836 pieces. The price tag: $165,650.
Among legislative leaders, the biggest spender was Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., who last fall became chairman of the House GOP Conference. He spent $133,053 to mail 844,336 pieces.
Other leaders in the last Congress and the current one were not big users.
The cost of postage is not the only expense for taxpayers. Printing and reproduction can add tens of thousands of dollars to a mailing's cost. The printing cost for one mailing from McCotter was $30,259.
There is a practical limit on how much can be spent on mailings.
Funding comes from a congressman's office budget, which ranges from $1.2 million to $1.4 million for payroll and other expenses. The more spent on mass mailings, the less money is available for such needs as staff, salaries and district offices.
Senators can also send franked mail, but the amount for each senator is specific and generally based on the number of addresses in a senator's state. At no point may it exceed $50,000 a year for mass mailings. For fiscal year 2004, overall mail allocations ranged from $31,746 to $298,850.
Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., who mailed 906,788 pieces last year and won re-election with 60 percent of the vote, sees the mailings as helping him do his job.
"Ours is a representative government, requiring an active dialogue between elected officials and those they serve," Stearns said in a statement.
Mike Stokke, a political aide to recently resigned Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., when he was House speaker, said he would advise congressmen to send out mailings when they've fulfilled an important promise, such as getting money for a bridge in the district.
Sadism abbreviated s ---, and the meaning of Oxfam Nue:daijue
M - Masochism initials, the meaning of the Nue:daijue
* Taken in China consisted not so mad, the only masters of the meaning of s, m is the role of the slave. Sm s m means that the acts of sexual abuse, the so-called Nue:lian.
Smer of sexual abuse lovers, Chinese-style English.n
SM full name is sadomasochism, or abuse of abuse (one of the International Classification of Diseases), a means for the humiliation, the suffering caused Bangfu or related to the sexual activities of the habit. If patients receive these preferences stimulation, known as the abused patients, otherwise abuse patients. Such patients often take two from the abuser and the abused in the process, access to sexual excitement. As for the American spirit Classification of Diseases, put further divided into abuse of sexual abuse and sexual abuse of abuse. Of the so-called sexual abuse, means patients after more than six months at least, the recurring strongly motivated by sexual fantasies, sexual impulses or behavior, which is to act (non-simulated) will be psychological or physical suffering (including humiliation) imposed on the victims who was, and thus access to sexual excitement. These fantasies, sexual or impulsive acts are already in clinical caused suffering, or to social, occupational or other important areas of functional impairment. As of sexual abuse, patients should at least after more than six months, recurring strongly motivated by sexual fantasies, sexual impulses, or behavior, is being humiliated, beaten, Bangfu, or other lead to the actual behaviour of suffering (non-simulated) . These fantasies, sexual or impulsive acts are already in clinical cause significant suffering, or to social, occupational or other important areas of functional impairment.n
Although purely sexual abuse or sexual abuse of the separate existence of the case. However, the most common is the two coexist in the same person, but the parties than preference what is it. Sexual abuse in the play of the role of the abused, it can be sexual pleasure; on the contrary, sexual abuse of persons from passive into active, able to obtain sexual gratification. From abuse or abuse were met, impose or accept painful, usually whip, bite, such as acupuncture, but intensity varies from person to person, and some simply rely on fantasy, and some require action, formidable, may be causing bodily harm, or even of homicide. At this point, some schizophrenia patients or sexual psychopathic, because of the collapse of internal control and thinking of the distortions of sex abuse will become his abide by a ceremony.n
Sexual excitement and orgasm and painful experience of giving link, or the result of the turn. 2. In a negative attitude or fear of sexual impotence, and others were considered abuse to sexual stimulation is a safe manner. 3. Other related mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and other serious abuses in the conduct and performance of the ceremony, is its ability to control the lower house and symbolic of the process.n
Anyone who has the hearts of some abuse, or the tendency to abuse, in some cases, this tendency will be demonstrated. (Interested can look at the recovery of Sodom 120 days is that the rulers in the absence of restrictions on their time, not before the inner expression of the desire shown by almost all the scenes). Such phenomena as homosexuality, you may not accept, but he certainly does exist, but will exist.n
Nue:lian definition: It is a pleasure and the pain will be linked to sexual activity, or a kind of pleasure obtained through the pain of sexual activity. Must be explained that the so-called pain has two connotations, one of which is physical suffering (such as whipping caused pain) and the other is the spirit of the suffering (such as rule and obedience in the relations between the humiliation caused by the pain).n
As SM technology, it is a simple abuse, primarily to allow the abuse was psychological humiliation, and was psychologically abusive to the governor, so that the arguments are due to the psychological impact of a more exciting response. If for physical pain and abuse, drop-in on the obscene. SM, which is the way a lot of abuse. In fact, the sex in peacetime, will be very conscious of the use of the SM some simple techniques. For example, the woman s dog-down position, or, for the other side to his knees oral sex, SM have the means inside. Under normal circumstances SM both sides respect each other in the case, the two parties voluntary, to carry out such acts. Is not a true sense of the slave owners, but to allow both sides to achieve a more exciting state to carry out an act.n
SM least from all walks of life, regardless of gender, regardless of comrades or heterosexual. SM practice, SM emphasizes both hardware and software, how to learn how to use props of technology which is the essence, and that often the games are played out, at least up to more than 40. Europe and the United States, cities have SM club, are held in the United Kingdom every year, SM Pride Month, but Taiwan SM community, have not yet SM bars or PUB, it is difficult SM analysis of the cultural identity of ethnic groups. However, the end of last year they had held in Panchiao, SM multi-P Party Fabric activities.n
SM key in the ability to stir up excitement. SM props as many as 10, are often games are played in more than 40 species. Some of the play Love of clothing, like leather clan of the need to wear leather Jinjuanku, neck or hands, Central, Central, etc. Some are rubber clan , a sexual encounter rain on rising, we must Chuanyuyi boots; Metal Family wearing leg irons and handcuffed handcuffs, chains, etc. Prix. Games are played from the shackles of tied up, whipped, dripping wax oil, folder nipple, anal abuse, mummy, playing dirty, human-animal sexual asphyxia have delivered heated varying degrees. As for the catheterization or Huanchang in the SM community to be less in such a medical background players usually will be used in medical rubber urethral catheter insertion, some abusers prefer to water injection abused the urethra, or enjoy the pleasure of the so-called enema.
Following me to introduce several safety SM games are played, not with you-he (she) try!n
Practice: the other side tied to the bed, taking advantage of each other without the ability to retaliate state Be suggestive him, let him lust rising; sure to use your hands, chest, smooth skin and sexy lips, hands touching, with chest Moceng his body and the skin around through your mouth kiss he would like to be kissed all the parts, he really could not stand the moment, and then riding posture Cairu men on the cross-sitting, use your lumbar strength, pointing Humei did enjoy the dominance of the process of sex (which is the basic fee-based programme for the women s fox-female).
Second, aphrodisiac recipe: blindfolded (with stockings or handkerchief blindfolded each other or their own eyes)
Stimulate: this is a general partner, the highest security, but also vigorous stimulation of the sex, especially with hands tied and blindfolded both with the effect of doubling certainly can your night sex relations have entered a new high level.
Notes: Regarding security
Whether you today to carry out what kind of stimulation of the sex, in the past tried to matter most in need of attention is security. Because stimulate sex-sounding name of stimulating , of course, than the general approach sex with more risk, so security preparations in advance is very important. If, in the process, and therefore was injured, or not comfortable in the accident will be lost and try to stimulate the mind-sex, sex may also did not feel the joy.
Pay attention to two issues: mental construction
In general, stimulation-sex sexual relations is a relatively heavy a approach, you might try a little after feeling, in turn, said that you may also try to addiction. But the most important thing is that in the beginning of time trying to learn to OPEN attitude to face down the stereotypes hearts, you can not psychologically on the pre think this is weird or abnormal sexual behaviour to adopters Faced with this attitude you never tried sex, so you can feel different sexual experience.
Meanwhile, we should remind you in love before first depicted in the minds of a whole steps, we will not be carried out to when you do not know how to start with the embarrassment, undermined the atmosphere and sex to. But in here to give you a piece of advice: to stimulate sex-as far as possible not to use every day, after all, this re-taste sex relationship becomes habit, will unknowingly each sex practices and increase the taste, since you will not with your partner to try to have sex in general, feel very ordinary strange, so, the next low sex peak appears, can not be more drastic means to stimulate the relationship.
Related: House Reps Spent $20M on Mailings
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From www.time.com:
Everyone here has given you great advice and certainly some thngs to think about. it is up to you how you act on it though! Good luck.
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