THE MIDDLE COAST

House of Representatives

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Scorecard

2024 Scores

NOTE: This is an active investigation. You can help us complete this work by donating to Solarpunk PAC.

A short explainer on “Franking Privilege” and “Members’ Representational Allowance”

Each member of the House of Representatives is given a set budget to run their office. This is called the “Members’ Representational Allowance”. Within this budget is a line item called “franking”. For centuries, the franking privilege allowed congress members to communicate with constituents and conduct official government business through the US Postal Service at no charge. The US Government reimburses the USPS for this expense and the line item is associated with each Representative. In the House Ethics manual, guidelines require franking not be used for campaign-related items.

Unfortunately, we found many Representatives abusing this privilege and wasting taxpayer funds on clearly political ads against another political party, instead of using their campaign funds. This is waste, fraud, and abuse of the government so they can remain in power at the expense of taxpayers.

Review our methodology here.

What we found shocked us.

Representatives say they are cutting waste, but in reality are wasting taxpayer money.

Research how your representative did in our new scorecard on taxpayer money used for political ads in 2024. We are building out this research for all congressional representatives in the Middle Coast states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.

Franking spend by Representatives in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan

Republicans spend on average 5.48% on franking, while Democrats spend 1.33%, almost 4x less. Average of both parties is 3.59%.

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin *

WI-01

Bryan Steil (R)

Portrait of Rep. Steil

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

D

No taxpayer funded campaign material found. Extremely high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$145,366.38

Franking % of Total Office Budget

8.35%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

Checkmark with text that says "No taxpayer funded campaign material found"

WI-02

Mark Pocan (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$208.17

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.01%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

Checkmark with text that says "No taxpayer funded campaign material found"

WI-03

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Portrait of Rep. Van Orden

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

F

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. Very high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$117,426.26

Franking % of Total Office Budget

6.80%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

WI-04

Gwen Moore (D)

Portrait of Rep. Gwen Moore

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$25,240.70

Franking % of Total Office Budget

1.43%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

Checkmark and text "No taxpayer funded campaign material found"

WI-05

Scott Fitzgerald (R)

Portrait of Rep. Fitzgerald

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

F

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. Extremely high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$270,310

Franking % of Total Office Budget

16.88%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

WI-06

Glenn Grothman (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

F

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. Very high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$95,128.35

Franking % of Total Office Budget

6.11%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

WI-07

Tom Tiffany (R)

Portrait of Rep. Tiffany

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

F

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. Very high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$100,256.60

Franking % of Total Office Budget

5.49%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

WI-08

Former Representative Mike Gallagher (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$29,870.48

Franking % of Total Office Budget

2.71%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

Minnesota

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Minnesota *

NOTE: This is an active investigation. Your donation to Solarpunk PAC helps us complete this work. Your contribution helps us finish this important work.

We all know that the current administration is gutting critical services in the name of “waste, fraud, & abuse” but what most taxpayers don’t know is that those crying “waste, fraud & abuse” are actually committing it!

MN-01

Brad Finstad (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

C

Veiled political message paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. High franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$77,351.25

Franking % of Total Office Budget

4.41%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MN-02

Angie Craig (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$290.40

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.02%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MN-03

Dean Phillips (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$0

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.00%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MN-04

Betty McCollum (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

B

Veiled political message paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$21,106.96

Franking % of Total Office Budget

1.28%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MN-05

Ilhan Omar (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$409.20

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.02%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MN-06

Tom Emmer (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

F

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. Very high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$102,470.01

Franking % of Total Office Budget

6.43%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MN-07

Michelle Fischbach (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

F

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. Very high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$81,858.64

Franking % of Total Office Budget

4.51%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MN-08

Pete Stauber (R)

Portrait of Rep. Stauber

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

C

Veiled political message paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. High franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$67,451.93

Franking % of Total Office Budget

3.60%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

Michigan

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Michigan *

NOTE: This is an active investigation. Your donation to Solarpunk PAC helps us complete this work. Your contribution helps us finish this important work.

We all know that the current administration is gutting critical services in the name of “waste, fraud, & abuse” but what most taxpayers don’t know is that those crying “waste, fraud & abuse” are actually committing it!

MI-01

Jack Bergman (R)

Portrait of Rep. Bergman

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

D

Veiled political message paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. Very high franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$132,728.91

Franking % of Total Office Budget

6.94%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-02

John Moolnaar (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

D

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$52,365.56

Franking % of Total Office Budget

2.80%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-03

Hillary Scholten (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$12,467.09

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.73%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-04

Bill Huizenga (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

C

Veiled political message paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$1,502.41

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.09%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-05

Tim Walberg (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

D

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. High franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$75,968.17

Franking % of Total Office Budget

4.23%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-06

Debbie Dingell (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

B

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$60,472.23

Franking % of Total Office Budget

3.45%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-07

Elissa Slotkin (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$959.29

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.05%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-08

Dan Kildee (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$1,949.27

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.11%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-09

Lisa McClain (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

F

Multiple political messages paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. High franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$82,259.95

Franking % of Total Office Budget

4.65%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-10

John James (R)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

C

Veiled political message paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. High franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$76,647.08

Franking % of Total Office Budget

4.13%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-11

Haley Stevens (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

A

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$507.63

Franking % of Total Office Budget

0.03%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-12

Rashida Tlaib (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

C

Veiled political message paid for by taxpayers against another political party and/or candidate. High franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$96,744.76

Franking % of Total Office Budget

5.86%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

MI-13

Shri Thanedar (D)

Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Score

B

No taxpayer funded campaign material found. High franking spend of total office budget.

Franking Cost to Taxpayers

$84,110.11

Franking % of Total Office Budget

4.38%

Example of taxpayer-funded campaign material

Methodology

We accessed the US House Of Representatives, Office of the Clerk: House Communications Standards Commission’s Advisory Opinions to see if a Representative made any advertisements or mailers that communicate a political message against another political party and/or candidate. The more they did, the lower their score in our Waste, Fraud, & Abuse Scorecard.

We also accessed the US House of Representatives Statement of Disbursements to total the cost of franking to taxpayers for each Representative in 2024. We then calculated the percentage of their office spend for the franking line item.

A score of “A” means we did not find any abuse of franking priviledge in 2024. A score of “F” means we found many instances of wasteful campaign material AND a high franking spend as a percentage of their office budget.