Horn upset over letter Hodes sent

Article published Nov 3, 2008

Horn upset over letter Hodes sent

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN, Staff Writer
klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com

Republican Jennifer Horn's campaign called "sloppy and sleazy'' a taxpayer-financed letter Congressman Paul Hodes, D-N.H., sent to his GOP opponent four days before Tuesday's election.

The letter, on official congressional stationery, cites work Hodes has done on legislation to give veterans a publicly-financed, college education.

"Giving veterans the opportunity to pursue education is the right thing to do," Hodes wrote Horn in the letter sent to her Nashua home address, dated Oct. 30.

"I encourage you to continue to contact me about the issues that are important to you."

Horn questioned the timing of the letter and said while Hodes campaigned on ethics reform, this move embraces the "culture of corruption and power brokering."

"Does Paul Hodes believe it is ethical to send unsolicited, taxpayer-funded mailings four days before an election?" Horn asked.

"I call on Paul Hodes to publicly disclose exactly how many letters were mailed and how much taxpayer-money was spent on this last minute campaign activity."

Horn campaign manager David Chesley acknowledged the letter was probably legal.

Members of Congress cannot send mass mailings using the so-called "franking'' privilege of taxpayer financing within 90 days of an election.

Incumbents are able to send taxpayer-paid letters within the election period as long as fewer than 500 are sent on an individual issue.

"This is both sloppy and sleazy that Paul Hodes would send his opponent a taxpayer-paid letter," Chesley said.

Hodes office spokesman Luke Watson insisted this was not an unsolicited letter and denied that it was broadly sent.

"Mrs. Horn contacted our office in March 2007," Watson said in a statement.

"We routinely send letters to individuals who have contacted our office and express interest in particular issues.

"This is not a franked, mass communication letter."

Chesley insisted, however, that Horn never sent Hodes a letter.

"She's never corresponded with his office," Chesley said.

"By the way, what member of Congress takes 18 months to answer a constituent?"

Watson said the office doesn't keep letters sent to Hodes but logs in the name and subject.

Hodes made liberal use of the franking privilege, sending $235,000 worth of taxpayer-paid mail that drew criticism from state GOP leaders and some newspaper editorial writers.

In response, Hodes has defended the practice as a proper role for any federal office holder.

Kevin Landrigan can be reached at 224-8804 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph .com.