Households across Montana recently received a campaign style flyer from Matt Rosendale. The flyer is a slick four-page piece with numerous photos touting Rosendale’s “accomplishments” in public office. It’s typical of politicians running for office. Problem is Rosendale isn’t running for office and, thankfully, the election is over. So what’s with this flyer?
Coy Boy Says He’s Running for Senate, Then He’s Not
After months of playing “will he or won’t he,” Rosendale finally announced he was going to run for the U.S. Senate against Tim Sheehy in the Republican Primary on February 9th of last year. Rosendale was not the choice of the The National Republican Senatorial Committee headed up by Steve Daines. In his announcement, Rosendale took a swipe at Tim Sheehey saying, “The leadership is trying to select, instead of allowing the people of Montana to select, who is going to be their next U.S. senator.”
Six days later, Rosendale withdrew from the U.S. Senate race, saying he didn’t think he could raise enough money to defeat Sheehy. It didn’t help that Donald Trump announced his support for Sheehy. Rosendale must have forgotten that he snubbed Trump by refusing to take his call during a debate on selecting new leadership on the House floor.
Then He’s Not Running For His Seat In Congress . . .Hmmmm
Former senator Heidi Heitkamp said on a podcast that he dropped out of the Senate race, because he impregnated a staffer. “Just to gossip a little bit: There’s a reason why Rosendale backed out of that Senate race — the rumor is he impregnated a 20-year-old staff person,” she said. A Rosendale staffer denied the allegation and threatened to sue. A month later, Rosendale announced that he was also withdrawing from the race for his House seat and retiring at the end of his term. Rosendale said he was withdrawing because of rumors and threats against his family.
He Continues Using His Government Franking Privilege Even As A Lame Duck
So, why is Rosendale now sending a flyer to Montana households? The answer is pretty simple. He didn’t pay for it. The taxpayers did. In tiny print, where a normal campaign disclaimer would be, the flyer is identified as, “Public Document–Official Business, Paid for by official funds authorized by the House of Representatives.” It’s perfectly legal and all members of congress use what is called Franking Privileges to communicate with their constituents. Each representative in congress is allocated approximately $300,000 each year for mailing to constituents.
Reasonable people can disagree with the concept of franking privileges. But it is difficult to imagine any justification for a lame duck congressman like Matt Rosendale spending public dollars to communicate with his constituents. Rosendale’s term ended on January 3rd. We received our mailing from him on January 8th.
Guess He’s Not Much Of A Fiscal Conservative After All
Hubris? Ironic? Hypocritical? Of course, it’s all of those things. Rosendale touts himself as a fiscal conservative holding the line on public spending. He was a member of the Congressional Freedom Caucus which orchestrated removing Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. He helped form the Montana Freedom Caucus in the Montana Legislature which counts the most loopy, far-right legislators among its members.Goodbye and good riddance to Matt Rosendale. . .until he rises again.