At spamming U.S. congressmen have spent $ 20 million

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for the year spent 20.3 million dollars from taxpayers to the mass mailing. Most of this money went to the useless ' spam '. Elected officials mailed a little less than 116 million beautifully decorated letters that tell about their achievements, upcoming meetings and give advice to the electorate housekeeping.

If you add on to that total costs of the Senate, the Congress has spent a total of 34.3 million to the post of dollars, has estimated the Associated Press. In 1988, when there were no restrictions on such expenses, for the purpose allocated 113.3 million dollars.

' Check the condition of the machine ', - exhorted fellow Republican, Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania ( mailing has been devoted to the growth of energy prices ). His party colleague Cynthia McKinley, fearing to lose the election, decided to expand its electoral base. ' Criminal offenders have the right to vote ' - it is informed of potential supporters. If the prison and probation period ended, and all fines are paid, you can participate in the elections, McKinley recalled.

In the House of Representatives, which includes 435 people, we can distinguish about a dozen champions - they sent out letters to more than 133 thousand dollars each. A total of their activities cost the treasury 1.8 million dollars. At least 100,000 spent on the letters 42 and 22 Republican Democrat. The most experienced legislators, as it became known, not spent on postal services at all.

Several congressmen argues that mailing - a very important way to communicate with voters. Without it, says Republican Ginny Brown- Waite, voters ' do not know what's going on in Washington '. Brown- Waite itself enjoys a very active mail - over the past year she spent on the ' feedback ' 129 500.

But Republican Ray LaHood of Illinois for 13 years in Congress, never did not send. ' It's a waste of taxpayers' money ' - he said. According to Lahoud, the congressman should only respond to direct requests. He repeatedly demanded to ban mass mailings, but each time the initiative died in the House of the relevant committee.

Fortunately, the ' dialogue with the voters ' can not allocate an infinite amount of money. Fund distribution accounts for each congressman from the total budget allocated to his office on spending - usually 1.2 - 1.4 million per year. Thus, the greater the choice to spend on writing, the less remain on the organization of the system, the payment of salaries of assistants and other needs.

podrobnosti. ua.