Barrett Blasted For Taxpayer-Funded Political Mailing
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.) is a “fiscal conservative” with principles and a plan … a plan for you to pay for his propaganda.
Barrett – who for weeks has been an announced candidate for South Carolina’s 2010 GOP gubernatorial nomination – was blasted today by taxpayer advocates for sending out a blatantly political mail piece on the taxpayer dime.
“The Taxpayers Association is very upset any time elected officials waste taxpayers money and this mail piece is a clear example of waste,” said Greenville (S.C.) fiscal watchdog Butch Taylor, who runs one of the local taxpayers’ associations.
“Congressman Barrett sent out what looks like a nice piece of campaign literature, and he should have paid for it with his own campaign money instead of taxpayers’ money,” said taxpayer advocate Dean Allen, the organizer of the news conference. “I am calling on Gresham Barrett to tell the American people how much taxpayers’ money was used on this franked mailing and give it back to the taxpayers.”
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, “franking” refers to the Congressional privilege of sending out “official” mail without having to pay for the postage. It is designed to permit elected officials to communicate with constituents on “official business,” although that standard is routinely abused in Washington to the tune of over $20 million a year – and that’s before we even get to the design costs associated with these slick pieces.
We’ve reported on “franking” in the past as it relates to U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, who was busted in late 2007 sending out $177,705 worth of franked mail over a one-year period, ranking him No. 1 in the entire U.S. Congress.
“Frankly,” Barrett needs all the free advertising he can get after getting booed off the stage for his bailout flip-floppery at a recent taxpayer rally in Greenville, the heart of “GOP Country” in South Carolina.
We just never expected that such a professed “fiscal conservative” would actually try and make the taxpayers pick up the tab for something like this.
You can take a look at Barrett’s taxpayer-funded propoganda by clicking on either of the icons below … and yes, our founding editor has already indicated that he would in fact “go there” with the girl in green …
Comments
By Jonathan on May 27th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Good for the taxpayers assn. for calling him out…all these congressmen continually get away with this kind of stuff…Inglis did the exact same thing during the campaign last year and he didn’t even have a serious challenger.
By CNSYD on May 27th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
This guy is a phony. I recall when he first surfaced and was being carried around to Rotary meetings, etc. He didn’t make a move without checking with his handler. I have corresponded with him (I live in his district) about matters that effect me. If he replied, which was seldom, it would be the most say nothing, noncommital response possible.
By Jamie Sanderson on May 27th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Barrett? I have one better… Rep. Henry Brown. What about the thousands of taxpayer dollars he spends just to send a “calender” to his constituents? I should know. I am one of them.
By Ron on May 27th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
“Barrett? I have one better… Rep. Henry Brown. What about the thousands of taxpayer dollars he spends just to send a “calender” to his constituents?” Jamie Sanderson
Jamie, you’re absolutely correct. The only way these arrogant a holes will ever learn is at the poles. I believe that Gresham will be defeated next year. At least Nikki’s people sound confident!! Also the paratrooper lady from Myrtle Beach I’m told is “loaded for bear” as she takes on Henry Brown. Of course Mr. Campbell and Ms. Ketner might have something to say about this also. I predict Mr. Brown will be coming home to Hanahan. Too many times these “professional politicians” are just completely “out of touch” with how serious “we the people” are about these issues. To paraphrase Roan Garcia Quintana, WE THE PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!
Ron Turner
We The People of SC
By BIN News Editorial Staff on May 27th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Gresham, if you have the “we the peep-holes” hounding you, then you’re a Great American. Keep up the good work. Wackos will go away, eventually.
By Mike on May 27th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Definitely concur in regard to the girl in the flyer, but the furor over the franked flyer itself is a tad histrionic.
By Bob on May 28th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Bauer, McMaster and Bauer are all three sucking at the tit. They will never respect the taxpayer or their money.
Be though with all of them|
By Cooter Brown on May 28th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Dis feller has a brite future BEHIND him! Scalawag!
By liz on May 28th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Gresham Barrett, where to even start… maybe where his office staff tried to take away my civil rights…. or maybe the fraudulent Inspector General report he got written for me…. which covers up the fact that South Carolinians Social Security was privatized long before 1991, using INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTS>
I have an international SSA account that paid for the fifteen years that I GOT OFF BENEFITS AND WORKED> as an RN scrubbing angioplasties…. so it was more than a 40 hour a week job…
Not good enough for the Congressman because when I got sick again and needed help… he had other plans for my money.
I lost everything for working with my disability, despite being promised by my country differently.
Barrett approves.
Ask him about his relationship with Fidelity Investments.
By Ron on May 28th, 2009 at 8:17 am
liz said “Ask him about his relationship with Fidelity Investments.”
Will, do the other candidates for gov have this information or is this something we need to look into?
By Drew Johnson on May 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am
I saw an email about this charge earlier this week. I would question the legitimacy of this charge, primarily due to the fact that he is a United States Congressman and the content of the direct mail piece is not about his gubernatorial race but rather concerning issues that impact his Congressional District. The same group promoting this issue also have been unable to distinguish between Congressional votes on TARP and the bailouts. Lawmakers need to be held accountable but this does not add up to be a logical argument.
By hank on May 28th, 2009 at 9:36 am
What about Henry McMaster and his never ending flow of self promoting public service announcements? For once what about making an announcement with the publics safety or wellbeing in mind? All this looks like to me is FITSNEWS writing another article they can take to the bank.
By GTA on May 28th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Henry Brown was just being taken advantage of by Rod Shealy and his crew of misfits for sending that mail out.
By Toyota Kawaski on May 28th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Boy fits yall are all over this story considering the piece has been in homes now for over two weeks.Please encourage folks to fill out the reply cards.Like i have said over and over SHE wont make out the primary.
By RS on May 28th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I believe that Congressman Barrett sends out one or two mailers every year to talk about issues of concern for our nation – As does every other Congressional office. The pieces are paid for out of the allowance given to every Congressional Office. Congressman Barrett is after all still the Congressman from the 3rd District. We would expect him to continue informing us and asking for our input.
Mr. Allen is making something out of nothing. Why isn’t he just as concerned that Henry McMaster is doing PSA’s that continully get his name out. Now PSAs are free but the production of them isn’t. Is he paying for these out of his own pocket or am I paying for it. Also, who paid for the Sled Agents who were seen carting him around to multiple Republican conventions. I wonder if doing partisan political activities is a taxpayer responsibility. Mr. Allen is doing a hit job of no substance – could he possibly be working for Mr. McMaster?
I think it is time to stop blasting a good conservative – who by the way has a 98% conservative voting record and has served the people of the 3rd District well and will serve the people or SC well in the Governor’s office.
By Jamie Sanderson on October 30th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
“Henry Brown was just being taken advantage of by Rod Shealy and his crew of misfits for sending that mail out.”
Then explain the 4-page mailer he sent out attacking health care reform on the tax-payers’ dime? It’s not his money, it’s ours he spends – freely.