Burnt Orange Report
News, Politics, and Fun From Deep in the Heart of Texas
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Burnt Orange ReportNews, Politics, and Fun From Deep in the Heart of Texas |
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July 16, 2005What is Bonilla up to?By Karl-Thomas MusselmanI received in my inbox earlier this week the following e-mail solicitation from Congressman Henry Bonilla (who is not my current congressman at either of my last two registered addresses. Emphasis mine.
First, I thought that solicitation like this has to be opt-in, which it clearly is not. Any action I can take on the e-mail it to opt-out. Secondly, why did I get the e-mail when I'm not in the district? I'm sure there are data companies out there that sell matched addresses to physical addresses so either mine was done incorrectly or he has sent this to all registered voters in Texas. Thirdly, if he has sent this to all registered voters in Texas, is it part of plan to increase name ID for a statewide run for something other than Senate now that Sen. Hutchison is running for re-election, the seat he wanted? Fourth, in any case, is this something that every Republican member of Congress is doing in a way possibly to extend their Franking privileges to the Internet in order to build another arena for the Republican Noise Machine? And if this is legal, would it be possible for Democrats to do as well? Comments
If you will refer to the House of Representatives' Members Handbook (http://www.house.gov/cha/mchandbook.html) under "unsolicited mass communications", you will learn that Mr. Bonilla needed the approval of the mass Email from the Franking Commission prior to dissemination. I suggest you ask Mr. Bonilla for a copy of his submission to the Franking Commission and a copy of the commission's approval. Could be interesting. Posted by: Billy Bob at July 16, 2005 08:01 PMThanks Billy Bob! Posted by: Karl-T at July 16, 2005 08:35 PMThink it might be for Justice Cornyn's seat? Posted by: peter at July 16, 2005 11:28 PMIt couldn't be to all registered voters because your email address isn't on the registration form (unless possibly you registered by email). Do you get regular email releases from any other Congressmen besides you're own? Posted by: poindexter at July 17, 2005 01:07 PMI'm on all sorts of lists in Texas, but I've received no such email. Poindexter's point is valid, also. While mistakes are made in all sorts of email lists, this still seems worth investigating further. Bonilla is clearly ambitious, and doesn't strike me as interested in being Comptroller. If it isn't the Cornyn seat he's interested in, he would be laying the foundation for 2008 run for Gov. (or Senate). Posted by: Demophoenix at July 17, 2005 07:56 PMNice to wake up isn't it. Better check again on the franking... deals with cost and intent, I believe. Bonilla wants to and Bush would support a Hispanic Senator from Tejas. Special Session blows up, no Gov leadership, Kay can change mind.... Cornyn is not going to Supreme Court ... look towards an diplomatic post for some changes...include Tony Sanchez in your thoughts. Posted by: D at July 18, 2005 12:17 AMD: the franking regulations deal with more than just content and cost. For one, 39 USC Section 3210 (that would be the law, not just some House Rule) prohibits mass mailings outside of the district from which a Representative is elected. The House has defined unsolicited mass Email to be the same as a mass mailing. Karl should ask for the Franking Commission submission and inquire how he got on a list of people in Bonilla's district. Posted by: Billy Bob at July 18, 2005 06:34 AMI believe. Bonilla wants to and Bush would support a Hispanic Senator from Tejas. Special Session blows up, no Gov leadership, Kay can change mind. Posted by: gownland at July 19, 2005 07:41 PMPost a comment
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