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Andrew Cline has been editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader since October of 2001. His writing has appeared in more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Review.Fergus Cullen: In their offices, Hodes and Shea-Porter are hardly frugal
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By FERGUS CULLEN
Friday, Jul. 24, 2009
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter paid a political consultant $17,000 using her taxpayer-funded congressional office budget during her first term in Congress. Rep. Paul Hodes sent more taxpayer-funded mail to his constituents than all but one of New England's other 21 congressmen during the same period.
These details emerge from a spreadsheet of hard-to-find and opaque congressional office expenditures (click here for the spreadsheet). Previously, reports disclosing how members of Congress spend their personal office budgets have been available to the public only in Washington, D.C., or select libraries, and then only in thick paperbacks released months after the expenditures were made. It's enough to make one think our representatives don't want us to see how they spend their personal budgets.
Shea-Porter paid Democratic political consultant Julia Piscitelli $17,000 in seven payments spanning 2007 and 2008. Piscitelli previously worked in Nancy Pelosi's office and has described herself as a "political therapist." In an interview, Piscitelli said then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel dispatched her to teach Shea-Porter how to use franked mail -- mail that members of Congress can send to their constituents using their signatures in lieu of postage -- and to set up better systems for handling constituent mail. Now White House chief of staff, Emanuel's job then was to help vulnerable freshmen like Shea-Porter retain their seats, in part by exploiting the advantages of incumbency.
Shea-Porter sent 677,070 pieces of franked mail at taxpayer expense in the three quarters after Piscitelli showed her the ropes -- more than all but four representatives from New England. The glossy, full-color mail is indistinguishable from campaign mail except that it is sent at taxpayer expense. Postage costs alone for Shea-Porter's franked mail came to $149,517; printing and design costs, which are not specified in the reports, may have nearly doubled the cost of the mailings. Shea-Porter used tax dollars to purchase a mailing list from the New Hampshire Democratic Party for $5,000 during this time.
Hodes sent 1,013,282 pieces of franked mail during his first term, nearly three times the average for a New England member. The mail cost $225,413 in postage alone. Nearly half of Hodes' mail -- 443,802 pieces -- was sent in the second quarter of 2008, just before the blackout period preceding elections in which such mailings are banned in an acknowledgment of the political component to carpet-bombing the district.
Hodes made four separate payments of $25,821.30 each to an out-of-state printer last spring. At least two of these payments were reported late, such that they were not disclosed in New Hampshire until after the election. Hodes also purchased a mailing list from the New Hampshire Democratic Party for $5,000 using taxpayer funds, using a vendor as a pass-through.
The reports also reveal that Shea-Porter's Chief of Staff Mike Brown was reimbursed $1,825 for hotel bills from October 2008 -- the last month of Shea-Porter's highly competitive congressional campaign. The timing of the expenditures suggests that Brown came to New Hampshire to do political work during the peak of the campaign and billed taxpayers for his travel expenses. Brown did not return a call giving him the opportunity to clarify these expenditures.
Brown earns a base salary of $124,000 this year, the reports indicate. His counterpart in Hodes' office, Matt Robison, earns $131,000.
Those salaries don't count end-of-year bonuses handed out at the discretion of members. At exactly the time when many of their constituents were worried about losing their jobs, the newly re-elected Hodes and Shea-Porter gave staff bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 each. In some cases, these bonuses appear to be the equivalent of four to six weeks' pay.
Members' budgets are "use it or lose it:" Any money left over at the end of the year is returned to the U.S. Treasury. Members who are frugal -- for example, who send less franked mail (three members from Massachusetts sent none) or who get by with smaller staffs -- save taxpayers money.
In her first year in office, Shea-Porter spent 99.7 percent of her $1.34 million office allocation, leaving just $4,425 unspent. Based on reports through March of this year, Shea-Porter spent 96 percent of her 2008 budget. Hodes spent 96 percent of his budget in 2007 and 98 percent in 2008. Typically members report some additional expenses late.
The reports are both detailed and vague. Putting the more than 4,000 separate line items into a spreadsheet shows that Shea-Porter spent $2,679.41 on bottled water during her first term. Yet tens of thousands of dollars of other expenses for both members, including most travel expenses, are unspecific. After stonewalling for years, Congress has indicated it will finally increase transparency by reporting office expenses online starting later this year.
Fergus Cullen's bi-weekly column, which was on hiatus during his term as chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party in 2007-08, resumes with this edition. He can be reached at fergus@ferguscullen.com.
►The House members' expenses in HTML format
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YOUR COMMENTS
The columnist wrote:
Postage costs alone for Shea-Porter's franked mail came to $149,517; printing and design costs, which are not specified in the reports, may have nearly doubled the cost of the mailings.
He should have used a period, not a semi-colon, after "$149,517."
- Steve, Manchester
Ridiculous - ANYONE looking to stir up controversy could have "cobbled" together this article.
Your readers should be told that much of your information on Julia Piscitelli was lifted, by you, from an old article, years before Julia even met Rep. Shea-Porter, and all info abt. expenses of the reps., is open to the public on the following web-site:
www.legistorm.com
Ridiculous article!!!
- Meredith, Boston, MA
It would be interesting to see what the last Republicans spent for their budgets.
We need to impose term limits by voting these guys out.
We need to find reps. that did not bow to either party machine.We need to find a person of character. Anyone?
- Dan Collins, Londonderry
Mr Cullen- just for the record I live in Haverhill, Mass. and I received a mailing from Congressman Hodes. Guess he is thinking aboutexpanding his district!
- Russ, Haverhill, Ma
Well written, well researched, way to shine some light on some sad truths Mr. Cullen.
- David, Manchester
Fergus, I know you don't like the fact that Shea-Porter & Hodes are using their congressional office funds to further their political agendas... BUT the reason they are in Congress is because they WON their elections and the Republicans LOST. And that was mainly because the voters agreed with one party's platform and disagreed with the other party.
- Timothy Horrigan, Durham, NH
Wait! Wait! Let me think. Something is missing here. As I recall, New Hampshire in 2008 had four, not just two, federally-elected officials. Hmmm, the names John E. Sununu and Judd Gregg come to mind.
Just where is your report on the expenditures of these two Republicans. Oh, that's right. They are Republicans so Fergus Cullen, former Republican chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, gives them a pass and says nothing about them. Ah yes, the usual even-handed treatment one comes to expect from Mr. Cullen.
- Gary Patton, Hampton
One does not have to be a rocket scientist to see a consistent pattern. I liv in district 1 and will limit my comments to our elected representativ, carol shea-porter. She has consistently demonstrated a questionably inappropriate relationship with Nancy Pelosi from California. As a result of this relationship, shea-porter has done a wonderful job representing the best interests of the people of California's 8th district. Most recently she demonstrated her loyalty to Pelosi and California by voting for H.R. 2454, affectionately known as the cap and trade bill. As a result of living in the warm sunny locale of California's 8th district, the citizens there will be affected less by the tx burden of the cap and trade bill, than will the citizens of District 1 in New Hampshire. Shea-porter's allegiance is clear: Her allegiance is to the democratic party, the citizens of district 8 in california through association with nancy pelosi and the many special intrest groups that donate handsomely to her campaign. Guess who the losers are? The citizens of District 1 in New Hampshire. Our best interests are not represented in the US house of Representatives.
I will go out on a limb and assume that many of the citizens of disctrict 1 are in fact financially responsible, frugal if you prefer. Spending over 99 percent of her first year's budget is a great example of shea-porter's financial practices. Any budget money not spent, is returned to the US treasury, where it can be allocated for more important uses. Fluffing her own feathers by sending out "frank" mail is just one example of many where shea porter has exploited tax payer money for her own gain.
- Michael Layon, Derry
And just why would anyone believe Fergus Cullen. He is a Republican hack with nothing better to do than throw stones.
- LJC, Manchester
If this were really a well researched and complete piece, it would have given an accurate percentage of what the previous GOP holders of these offices spent of their budgets. In the Senate, Judd Greggwas noted for paying his staffers more than the average that other Senators paid their staff. Spewing numbers without comparing them to Bass or Bradley proves nothing. More numbers without perspective or substance.....mediocrity at its finest!
- Jeff F, Clairmont
And who says our current [broken] political system doesn't favor the incumbent?
- Leo, Bedford
During the whole Stimulus fiasco an amendment to have the stimulus distributed based on population came to a vote in the House. This amendment would have meant 3.5 billion dollars for New Hampshire. Both Hodes and Shea-porter voted against the amendment. I personally wrote to Shea-Porter about this but her reply had nothing to do with my question of why she voted against the amendment and how this act was representing the people of New Hampshire in doing so. I have no doubt that Shea-Porter only represents the party leadership and could careless about the people of New Hampshire. I suspect the same of Hodes.
- Don Diamant, Milton, NH
Great Article! Thank You Mr. Cullen. My husband and I have have actually written letters and made phone calls to their offices regarding the "Stimulus Package, Cap and Trade, Fair Doctrine Act, Marriage Bill, etc..... The letters we received in response to our specific concerns are so generic in nature that they failed to address the subject we had requested of them. I do agree that they are masterfully written! They say everything about the agenda of the party leaders, but fail to respond to any direct question with any direct response. They never give a straight answer on how they will be voting! I remember the day before the "Stimulus Package" was to be voted on I called Jeane Shaheens office to ask how she would be voting and to ask her to vote no on this spending bill. I was told by her office that "She has not made a decision as yet." What! she had been working on this "Spending Bill" for over 2 years! And I was told "she has not made a decision yet!" I have no faith in the system any longer. I believe it is very clear to anyone who is listening and engaging in politics today, that our politicians no longer serve "we the people", but follow and serve "the party leaders"! Unfortunately, most of these people probably are"very nice people" and care about the country, but they have turned from their allegiance to "we the people" and instead are now serving "we the party leaders". Who by the way, are "radically" and "fundametally", "changing our country! I no longer write or call my state reps., my congressman/women because they have no ear for my voice! Instead, I have taken my voice to my family, friends, neighbors, acquaitenances and anyone else that I come into contact with and who will listen to my voice! I will not be silenced by the likes of Ms. Carol Shea-Porter, Mr. Hodes, or Ms. Jeanne Shaheen! I am "we the people" and "I will be heard". Let them spend our money on their propaganda and lies. But, there is an old saying in the business world, "there is power in the word of mouth! It's worth is priceless!" So, let's keep talking and exposing these politicians for what they truely are and are not! 2010 come quickly.....
- Dee Bourgeois, Weare, NH
Isn't each office provided a budget each year to manage as they please? Cullen didn't report that Shea-Porter bought $6,000 flat panel tvs or paid $1,500 for jewelry. She used her money to talk directly to her constituents. If the media weren't dying, perhaps she wouldn't need to do that.
And, let's say she did cut back on her staff - then the complaint would be, "Why has she not responded to my letter? My phone call?"
I wonder, how many of our NH friends and neighbors live away from home almost the entire year serving the public, and then come home on weekends only to be forced to shake hands with Cub Scouts, hold Town Halls and get yelled at, and be skewered in papers in silly columns by columnists who don't know the first thing about - well - anything?
- Mark, Salem
In this efficient electronic world we live in is their a need for "franked" mail? Isn't "franked" mail bad for the environment? How many trees were cut down for "franked" mail? Did they use sustainable or recycled NH grown paper? What about the ink, is the ink harmful to people or worse the planet?
- Chris, Portsmouth
Let's face it, neither party has a monopoly when it comes to spending taxpayer money in ways that might be considered lavish. Don't even pretend any of them hold the moral high ground in that regard.
I always maintained that the best thing NH Republicans had going for them during their great run in the 80s was the state's Democrats, who couldn't get out of their own way or field competent, attractive candidates.
Now the shoe's on the other foot and that's the best you got, Cullen? Some cheesy office expenditures? Wow!. The NH GOP's in bigger trouble than I ever imagined possible.
- RC, Claremont
Thank you for linking the expenses for our Representatives. The fact that it is so available to the public is a good example of transparency the Republicans keep harping about. So they used their Franking budget, so what? I'm sure if our Representatives didn't spend their Franking budget you'd be all over them for not communicating with their constituents.
In reviewing the expenses I couldn't help but notice Aaron LaVallee spent $2.00 for a Metro ticket. At least they're accounting for every dollar.
You should look into how many paper clips and rubber bands they've used. I'll bet there's a scandel looming there too.
- Gary Way, Bedford
On a somewhat related note, I noticed that Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu both shared a very small office (and I do mean small) on Main St. in Nashua. Even the sign that identified their office was very frugal.
Now that Jeanne Shaheen is in office, she appears to have the entire second floor of a large office building on Main St. in Nashua with her name in large letters across the entire front of the building. Paul Hodes' office in Nashua is quite large too. Why could Senators Gregg and Sununu function in a small, frugal office and not Paul Hodes and Jeanne Shaheen?
- Bryan Lemire, Nashua
Well researched and interesting, but in office expenditures will not hurt these representatives in the long run. Let's discuss their slavish adherence to the Democratic leadership of Nancy Pelosi, and their willingness to abandon the people of New Hampshire to promote the Democratic Party and special interests. i.e. both voted to pass "cap and trade".
- Anthony Marino, Pembroke
Correct me if I'm wrong but were not promised transparency of spending by the democrat spin machine? The last I heard it will now be the end of 2010 before we get to see where our trillion dollars was spent. Of course by then we will already be in dept up to our eyeballs and there will be nothing we can do about it.
Keep turning a blind eye to what is really going on to your children’s futures democrats. The shame is not yours for being lied too, but it will be for doing nothing about it. Your party is being run by a small group of radicals and you won’t hear about the sane democrats in the media. I also understand we don’t really have a true conservative party of Republicans either so there is plenty of shame to go around.
I’m an independent voter and I’ve pretty much had it with both parties.
- Deb, Derry
Since when is communicating with constituents bad? We've been through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and our Congressional representatives are communicating with constituents what's going on and that's wrong? Misuse of money is Republican Governor Mark Sanford spending state funds for high class hotels and first class airfare. As usual, the Republicans attempt to politicize something and ignore the obvious, serious problems in their own party.
- ed, londonderry
I do remember Carol Shea Porter "railing on" about the AIG bonuses after she voted for the bill that allowed it. Weren't people outraged at AIG because they used taxpayer dollars to pay bonuses to executives. How is CSP any different?
- Chris, Merrimack
Who cares? Since when has frugality in government ever been necessary? Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan... these guys weren't frugal and they did just fine.
We should be spending more today, not less. Pay off our debt when the economy is better. That's what's worked in the past, that's what will work now.
- John, Plymouth
Isn't setting "set up better systems for handling constituent mail" a non-political part of being in Congress?
- Putney, Manchester
Don't we want to have information getting out to those in the community that might not otherwise be aware of what is happening at a national level? Those of us who care about details with politicians at the level of this article are the exception - we follow things very closely. However, people like my brother does not and he might stand to benefit to know there is a tax credit for first-time home buyers - shouldn't he deserve to get some information about something like that?
I'm all for transparency in government - and I don't think this article reveals anything damning to people that can think rationally about what it costs to run a constituent service operation for the people of this state. Both Rep. Shea-Porter and Rep. Hodes work extremely hard for us and I am proud of the work they have been doing.
- S. Seaborn, Manchester
Well researched, Mr. Cullen. Interesting and disappointing at the same time.
- Francais Greene, Plymouth, NH
These are small amounts relative to the bills they have voted on so far. One overriding fact is that Democrats simply cannot be trusted with money. Republicans have been not particularly exemplary, but Democrats put it into hyper drive and we all suffer with higher taxes.
- Bob, Salem
The Democrats excel in wasting taxpayer money - especially for their own personal benefit.
- Mac Wade, Newmarket
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