John Kline Franked Me! - Part 4

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Veterans Administration’s RONA (“Release Of Names and Addresses”) Guidelines are clear, and here they are:

Title 38 of the United States Code authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to release the names or addresses, or both, of any present or former members of the Armed Forces, and/or their beneficiaries:

• To nonprofit organizations (including Members of Congress) when the purpose of the release is directly connected with the conduct of programs and the use of benefits covered by title 38.

• As part at VA's Outreach Program for the purpose of advising veterans of non-VA Federal, State and local benefits and programs.

So, John Kline submitted an application to the VA, to obtain the names and addresses of veterans in the Second District. While I’m still waiting on a hardcopy of ol’ Semper Never’s request, I’m told that Kline’s request states, and I quote:

”Please be assured that my staff and I are aware that our veteran’s names and addresses must remain limited(emphasis added) to the reporting on legislation and changes in benefits and/or entitlement programs. We also understand that a willful use of names and addresses for purposes other than those specified shall be construed as a misdemeanor and render my staff and I subject to the penalities noted in Section 5701 (F).”

With that understood, John Kline sent campaign propaganda (link here to see it) to veterans, using names and addresses supplied by the VA under the RONA program. And I say campaign propaganda, because starting in the second paragraph, Kline is talking about himself. And here’s that second paragraph:

As the father of an Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot, the husband of a retired Army nurse, and a 25-year Marine Corps veteran myself, I know how important it is for America to keep her promises to our service members and veterans.

Say, Kline? The purpose of the program is to convey information, not your personal story. You want people to know your personal story? Send it out on your own dime, NOT at taxpayer expense. Kline’s personal story has NOTHING to do with informing veterans of ”…the conduct of programs and the use of benefits covered by title 38.

Eleven times in this short letter Kline says “I”. As in “…,I know how…” and “…I am working…” and “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am proud…” and “I am particularly pleased…” and “That’s why I…” and “I also worked…” and “I
am committed…” and “…I am proud…” and “I am also…” and “…I will continue…” and “I am here…”

Well, as long as Kline is pattin’ himself on the back, might as well point out these, too: “our” and “we” and “our” and “our” and “myself” and “our” and “our” and “our” and “our” and “our” “our” and “me.”

Say, Kline? It’s not supposed to be about “you”, it’s supposed to be about programs and benefits. It’s not until the very end of the propaganda piece that ol’ Semper Never actually offers any help, and it sure looks like it’s as an aside. Let’s look at what ol’ Semper Never says, as he closes his propaganda piece:

If you have questions or concerns about legislation affecting veterans and their families, or if you are having trouble receiving your veterans benefits, please contact me.

Sincerely,

John Kline
Member of Congress

P.S. Some of this legislation may directly affect you and your family. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other legislation affecting our troops and veterans. I am here to help and serve you.

So as we see, Kline takes 2 and a half pages telling you what a great guy he is, but doesn't get around until the very end in a lame attempt – an aside, actually – to let a veteran know that “if you got a problem, I'm here to help.” Yeah, "rigtht."

Ladies and Gentlemen, Kline did not mention one piece of legislation that he wasn’t involved in. Are the only acts of Congress that affect veterans, acts that Kline was involved in? Somehow, I doubt it.

Kline acknowledged he knows the communication "...must remain limited..." to conduct of programs and use of benefits, yet he starts out by telling his personal story and doesn't stop there. I have no doubt Kline clearly skirted the intent of the law, if not the law in fact.

We’ll keep looking, and we hope you'll keep listening. Stay tuned!