THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 10, 1996 TAG: 9608100269
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 63 lines
Third District Democrat George Parrott has called for a congressional probe into the distribution of a 12-page circular by Republican Congressman Walter B. Jones Jr.
Parrott, who won the nomination in May, contended Friday that Jones may have violated federal election laws by sending out the full-color circular in several eastern North Carolina newspapers, including the Virginian-Pilot. That brochure, Parrott claimed, was paid for with taxpayer dollars.
A Jones spokesman, Glen Downs, said the brochure was approved by the Franking Commission, an arm of Congress that regulates communications by congressmen.
But Parrott, a 40-year-old Atlantic Beach businessman, said the Jones insert is election-year politicking.
``I've sent it to the Ethics Committee,'' Parrott said. ``I understand it was approved by the Franking Commission. But Walter Jones criticized Martin Lancaster over and over and over and over again during the last campaign for his use of free mailing allowed for members of Congress. But since being elected, Jones has broken his promise to the people over and over.''
Parrott said Jones ``should do the right thing by admitting this color flier was a fraud and pay for it out of his campaign fund, instead of using taxpayer dollars.''
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is looking into the use of brochures by other Republican members of Congress, Parrott said.
``There are identical brochures being used by other Republicans with only slight changes,'' he said. ``On the front of Jones' brochure, it says that it was produced and sent at less than the cost of a 32-cent stamp. If that's true, I'll show you a printer that's going out of business.''
Downs, however, said that because the Jones insert is so similar to other GOP brochures, it could be done at a reasonable cost. He also defended Jones' use of the insert.
``Because we didn't re-invent the wheel, and there were only a few changes, we were able to have those printed cheaply,'' Downs said. ``The insert was approved by the Democratic staff of the Franking Commission. There are very strict guidelines governing use of the Franking privilege now, much more so than when Walter's father was in Congress.''
Downs said the Franking Commission has two staffs, one appointed by Democrats, the other by the GOP. Republican staffers review Democratic materials, and Democrats review Republican materials to ensure they meet federal guidelines.
``The 104th Congress has enacted provisions that outline very strict procedures in doing mailings and inserts of this type,'' Downs said.
He said Jones ``still opposes the irresponsible use of the Franking privilege.
But there's nothing wrong with communicating with constituents. Last year, Walter Jones Jr. returned $125,000 of the $500,000 to $600,000 he received as a representative's allowance to set up offices and pay for staff and postage.''
Voters go to the polls in the 3rd District race Nov. 5. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
A spokesman for Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. says the brochure was
approved by the Franking Commission, which regulates such
communications. by CNB