Kingsport Times-News: Taxpayers footed $24k bill for TNGA Millionaire Ramsey's direct mail piece

[doeriver]

The Johnson City press ran a photo of the Ramsey direct mail piece that cost Tennessee taxpayers $24,000 but failed to post an image file at the online Johnson City Press web site:

Taxpayers footed bill for Ramsey direct mail piece
Kingsport Times-News
http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9020953

By Hank Hayes
Published February 26th, 2010

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who is running for governor, emphasizes in a direct mail piece sent to Kingsport homes that he is “Listening. Working. Fighting for Us.”

The mail piece does not say whether it is paid for by his gubernatorial campaign or by the state, but it is a “franked piece,” according to Lance Frizzell, Ramsey’s deputy chief of staff.

This official communication with constituents was paid for by taxpayers.

Ramsey, R-Blountville, said the mailer went to homes in his Senate district comprising Sullivan and Johnson counties.

About 45,000 units went out at a cost of $24,000, with the money coming out of state appropriations “which covers the cost of staffing, maintaining and operating the offices of the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House,” according to an e-mail from Connie F. Ridley of the Tennessee Office of Legislative Administration.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester noted the mail piece appears legal, but he questioned Ramsey’s ethics because the lieutenant governor is forbidden to raise money while the legislature is in session.

“As a candidate for governor, I just question whether that’s appropriate ethical behavior in this particular campaign,” Forrester said of the mail piece.

When asked whether the average Tennessean can tell if the official mailer is a campaign ad or an informational piece, Ramsey said: “I hope that’s the case. These are sent to my (Senate) district ... (but) obviously I want to be the next governor of the state of Tennessee.”

Inside the mail piece, Ramsey says he helped bring new investment and “hundreds of high-paying jobs to Tennessee.”

Ramsey says he is working on improving the state’s education funding formula and giving parents more choices through charter schools and home-school options.

Ramsey also says he is “upholding our values” by sponsoring the law to allow citizens to have a handgun carry permit and passing pro-life legislation.

The mail piece does not say “Ron Ramsey For Governor,” but Ramsey agreed its talking points are similar to those used in an election campaign.

“That’s what I stand for as a state senator,” he said of the talking points in the mail piece. “My message hasn’t changed to run for governor. This is what I’ve stood for since I ran for office in 1992. Would there be some overlap there? Obviously.”

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more at hyperlink

[doeriver]

1. Since 1992: so why the need for this mailer???

If this Ramsey mailer incorporates all of the TNGA Millionaire Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey's political positions that he has held "since 1992" then why is there any legitimate need to spend $24,000 of Tennessee taxpayers money on this obvious election campaign mailer...?

[doeriver]

2. Disclosure of cost printed on State of Tennessee publications

I am thinking that all publications printed by the State of Tennessee are required by law to have a disclsoure statement that reveals both the per-piece and total costs to the Tennessee taxpayers for the publication of such documents by the State of Tennessee. The $24,000 Ramsey mailer reportedly did not include such as statement.

If you should receive a copy of this Ramsey mailer do not destroy or throw away this material - keep the Ramsey mailer and forward a copy of it to the Tennessee Democratic Resource Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.

[doeriver]

3. image