Franking

The House wants to increase Members’ office budgets next fiscal year by almost 15 percent, partly because 2010 is an election year and lawmakers anticipate a surge in franked mail.

In a recently released budget request, the House Chief Administrative Officer asked appropriators to raise the Members’ Representational Allowances — which fund everything needed to run offices, including salaries, travel and supplies — by $90 million, citing increases “due to the election year cycle.”

“In an election year the expenditures increase and then decrease in a non-election year,” the request reads.

In my opinion, I believe that congressmen should be able to frank the postage.  However, I think they should have to actually sign the letter not a stamp via an employee.

It is another way that Congress does not share in the pain but keeps increasing their benefits while they spend my grandkids grandkids' money!

frank (v)  stamp an official mark on (a letter or parcel), esp. to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid. • historical sign (a letter or parcel) to ensure delivery free of charge. • archaic facilitate or pay the passage of (someone)
(n) an official mark or signature on a letter or parcel, esp. to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid. [ORIGIN: formerly as a superscribed signature of an eminent person entitled to send letters free of charge.]
ORIGIN early 18th cent.: from frank 1 , an early sense being [free of obligation.]