Posted on 08/05/2010 4:44:59 AM PDT by randita
GOP foe sues Grayson over DVD
By: Tim Alberta
August 4, 2010 07:14 PM EDT
Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson's decision to mail thousands of DVDs – which essentially serve as a legislative highlight reel of his first term – to his Orlando-area constituents sparked a backlash late last week when those constituents realized that $73,000 of their tax dollars paid for it.
Now, on top of facing voter anger in November, Grayson faces a lawsuit.
Todd Long, one of seven Republicans vying for the GOP nomination to challenge Grayson in November, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court seeking an injunction to prevent Grayson from using any more taxpayer money on DVDs.
Long insists the lawsuit is anything but a publicity stunt, telling POLITICO, “We expect to win.”
“We also asked the judge to rule the spending unconstitutional, and make Grayson reimburse the Treasury with $73,000," said Long, a lawyer of 20 years who says he's “fighting back” against Grayson’s abuse of the Constitution.
The freshman Democrat mailed the DVDs to some 100,000 homes in Florida's 8th District – which he paid for with his congressional franking privilege, which allows members of Congress to use taxpayers funds to pay for outgoing mail.
Grayson argued that he was providing a valuable form of constituent service. “The people of Central Florida have a right to see what we are doing in Washington, D.C., whether or not the media chooses to air it,” he said in a statement. “That's what this mailing accomplishes.”
Long admitted that while his lawsuit is legitimate, there are “a lot of other advantages” to filing it.
“Obviously everybody wants to get involved with this, and we’ve gotten some good media exposure,” he said, adding that every TV station in the Orlando area reported on his lawsuit Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, other Republicans seeking the GOP nomination on Aug. 24 have also criticized Grayson’s actions and called on him to return the money.
“That flyer should be paid for with campaign money, and he should pay the money back to the people of this country,” Dan Webster, a former state House Speaker and state Senate Majority Leader, said in a statement.
Another GOP challenger, state Rep. Kurt Kelly, issued a statement calling the DVD “little more than an MSNBC audition tape sent out to senior citizens throughout Central Florida.”
Kelly also called for the House ethics committee to investigate whether Grayson violated his franking privileges.
“If Alan Grayson wants to record a liberal mix tape so he can get his own show on MSNBC after I beat him this fall, he's certainly entitled to do so, but not with our taxpayer dollars,” Kelly added.
But Grayson, a fiery liberal who has attracted headlines for his hyperbolic statements during his first congressional term, says the situation is being blown out of proportion.
“We spent 73 cents per DVD, which works out to nine cents per constituent,” Grayson told WESH Orlando.
Long insisted it’s not the dollar amount that matters – it’s the principle. “This is to let Congress know that they’re only supposed to spend our money for a few purposes,” he said. “In cases like this, they’re just using our money to get reelected, to get their message out – and conservatives are going to fight back.”
Does anyone know of a Freeper who keeps a FL specific ping list? If so, who would that be? Thanks.
“Long admitted that while his lawsuit is legitimate, there are “a lot of other advantages” to filing it.”
Rookie mistake.
No he won’t. He’s too much an egotistical, radical, ideologue, a$$hat - much like Obama. They honestly believe they are better and smarter and can do no wrong.
If anyone is interested, I am selling a highlight reel of my best moments this year. I take paypal. You will get the following moments:
* me juggling the soap in the shower and actually catching it.
* some hot chick asking me questions at the hardware store thinking I worked there
* me throwing 7 different wads of paper at the trash can and actually making it
* Me catching two Sockeye Salmon with one hook
You have more accomplishments right there than all of Congress put together.
Grayson just stands in the undrained swamp.
“Interesting development. My guess is Grayson will pony up the $73,000 and that will be the end of it. But the point will have been made.”
My guess is the DNC will funnel money to Grayson. Then again, is anyone from the DNC spending money in the district?
I can believe catching 2 Sockeye Salmon with 1 hook but, a hot chick asking you questions? That’s stretching it.
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