News

House commission dismisses Democrats' complaint against Edwards

By Lightning Reports, Published: March 10, 2024

A bipartisan U.S. House comission quickly dismissed a complaint filed by the Henderson County Democratic Party claiming that a mailer sent by U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards was "hyper-partisan" barred by Congress's franking privilege rules.

Democratic Party Chair Leslie Carey and other Democrats filed the complaint on Feb. 26 with the Communications Standards Commission. The franking privilege, which dates to 1775, covers mailing cost for official communications to constituents by members of Congress.

"The mailer was closely reviewed prior to its distribution and granted an Advisory Opinion (permission to be distributed) as its content were found to be compliant under the current requirements of our Communications Standards Manual. Communications Standards Commission Director Daniel C. Bucheli said in his notification to Carey on March 1. "This review and approval were granted by both Majority/Minority staff under franking request ID: 74530-55. Given such, the Commission has determined such does not qualify as a complaint and thus is dismissing such."