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An Arizona congressman says liberals on the "Franking Commission" have deliberately tried to censor mail that conservative Republican House members are attempting to send out to their constituents. Democrats on the bipartisan Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards have been blocking Republicans from sending out franked mailings to constituents that refer to the cap-and-trade bill as "cap and tax," the stimulus bill as the "so-called stimulus," and the healthcare reform bill as "socialized medicine." Representative Trent Franks (R-Arizona) says the Franking Commission even told him to stop using the phrase "Democratic majority" in his newsletters, and to use "majority" instead. "For...

House Republicans this week accused Democrats of censoring GOP mailings to constituents on a variety of subjects and of imposing uneven requirements on the minority party’s mail. Democrats on the franking commission — which must approve all official mail — have blocked Republicans from using politically weighted descriptions of climate change legislation, the stimulus bill and other issues, according to e-mails obtained by Roll Call. Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) said he went through seven drafts of his last newsletter, which included language about energy policy. “It’s embarrassing and unsupportable,” Culberson said, adding that requests for approval used to take a...

“I made the comment I’m sorry but this is a violation of my first amendment rights.” Who: Rep. John Carter (R-TX) What: Exclusive interview regarding censorship on the Hill. Carter Soundbite #1: 24 Republicans Had Constituent Mailings Delayed. “Twenty-four Republican Members of Congress have a similar story about different language that the Democrats held up their communication until they changed the language … So they prevent us from communicating our message by just stalling us.” Carter Soundbite #2: Republicans Forced To Use Pelosi Talking Points. “We had put in that speech the words ‘The Democratic majority is bringing out their...

VIDEO HERE.

Democrat censorship of House Republicans’ constituent mailings has reached Orwellian levels.  Republican members of the House Monday night took to the House floor during Special Orders speeches and gave examples of some of the censorship horror stories.   Democrats on the Franking Commission have even gone as far as to object to and censor from one member’s communication to constituents a direct quote, in context, from President Obama.   Franking is the process by which Congress, the President and some cabinet members correspond with the public using their signature on the envelope instead of a stamp.  The mailings to constituents...

on TV NOW! Awesome speeches by Republicans about newsletter censorship by franking office.

The battle against censorship by the House Democrat majority continues today as Republicans plan to speak out on the issue during their hour-long leadership Special Orders speeches tonight from the House floor. Highly-placed Republican staffers tell HUMAN EVENTS that all Republican members were invited to defend their First Amendment right to free speech tonight during one-hour Special Orders speeches, giving examples of censorship of their franking privileges by Democrats on the Franking Commission.  Members were asked to bring and read aloud franking disapprovals they have received that may have violated their free speech rights. Democrats on the commission are blocking...

I took some time to follow up on the censorship the democrats are imposing on republicans through their "franking commission". First the republicasn were prohibited from sending out the chart of the proposed new healthcare bureaucracy, now they are prohibited from using the phrase "government run health care". Pretty lame, but that is what it is. They can't get away with this. The Franking Commission: Phone, 202-226-0647; fax, 202-226-0047 The Chair of the Franking Commission is Susan Davis (D-CA). Her number is 202-335-2040; fax 202-335-2948. People should put pressure on them. They have no business interfering with first amendment rights...

FReepers, pursuant to the actions of the Democrats in trying to block healthcare info sent to constituents by denying the franking privilege to the GOP, I made a call to the office of Congressman Kevin Brady(R-TX). Brady created the chart that the Dems don't want people to see. I discussed with the staffer, who was the point man on the effort, that Brady needs to lead the effort for the public to send in stamps to pay for the mailing. If done correctly (is our side really capable of doing that?), it could be a coup in the media to...

House members spent $20.3 million on mailings to constituentsFriday, December 28, 2007 By DENNIS CONRAD ~ The Associated Press Pieces of mass mailings from Congressmen were seen Dec. 19 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Gerald Herbert Associated Press WASHINGTON -- U.S. House members spent $20.3 million in tax money last year to send constituents what's often the government equivalent of junk mail -- meeting announcements, tips on car care and job interviews, surveys on public policy and just plain bragging. They sent nearly 116 million pieces of mail in all, many of them glossy productions filled with flattering photos and...

It's a farce. I'm talking about letters to members of congress asking about public policy. Some questions deserve more than the typical boiler plate response letter (one drafted by a 22-year-old and signed by a machine that uses a real ink pen to create the illusion of a personal relationship). Like I said, the truth is that most of incoming letters aren't read by the member and they're answered with a form letter. And when you call your Congressman's office, you're lucky if your five minute well-reasoned explanation of why a bill is bad becomes a line on a tally...