Heller mailing criticized

A mailer arriving in Nevada mailboxes from U.S. Rep. Dean Heller is an attack on the Democratic health care plan.

As a result, Heller is drawing fire for misusing the free congressional mailing privilege—called the frank—for political purposes. Columnist Jon Ralston wrote that the mailing “includes several leading questions” such as “Should Government Bureaucrats [note caps] be responsible for making individual healthcare decisions?” and “In my opinion, Members of Congress should be required to participate in a government-run plan, do you agree? [Note bad grammar.]” The bracketed comments are Ralston’s.

Heller’s office said the mailer has been approved by the Franking Commission, a six-member body composed of other congressmembers that polices content of free mailings. The commission’s website does not post the guidelines used in rulings.