Washington — Newcomer Congressman Paul Broun blanketed his Georgia district with so many mass mailings that he burned through much of his annual office budget, a Capitol Hill newspaper reports.

The Athens Republican was one of the biggest users of mass mailings in Congress, Roll Call reported Wednesday in a front page story.

Broun, a hard-line opponent of big federal spending, won the July 15 primary election by 71 percent.

Since Jan. 1, Broun has boosted his name recognition with constituents through 10 mailings using his congressional "franking" privilege, spending nearly half his overall $1.38 million overall annual budget on communications alone, Roll Call reported.

Roll Call quoted Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) saying Broun would get assistance from Republicans.

In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Steel said GOP leadership would work with Broun on the budget problem, but would not give details.

Jessica Morris, Broun's Georgia-based spokeswoman, said the congressman would have a response later Wednesday.

By JULIA MALONE [2]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/23/08