The Franking Congress

Last year, members of the House of Representatives spent almost $45 million to send out around 106 million pieces of mail. As is usual in the year before an election year, House mailings more than doubled in the second half of the year. House members spent $14.3 million in the first six months of 1991 and $30.4 million in the last six months. Much of this mail was sent to "introduce" members to new voters in redrawn congressional districts.