Crank Releases Fiscally Prudent Constituent Service Plan
Crank Releases Fiscally Prudent Constituent Service Plan
Fiscal Conservativism Starts in the 5th District
Colorado Springs - April 11, 2006 - One day after Doug Lamborn released his proposed plan to open as many as six congressional offices in the district, if elected, candidate Jeff Crank released his plan for continued constituent service in the 5th Congressional District.
Crank's plan will open one additional small office in a county other than El Paso and will provide weekly office hours in each of the additional counties at existing free government facilities to serve the needs of constituents while maximizing savings to the taxpayers.
"Anyone who has traveled Colorado's 5th congressional district knows that it's large, but not even those members of Congress who represent an entire state have district offices in every county," Crank said. "My plan will continue the prudent Hefley tradition of being a good steward of the taxpayer's money while providing excellent constituent service. As a fiscal conservative, when I go to Congress and ask the government to tighten its belt, I can't expand the size and scope of the operation that I have direct control over."
Crank noted his experience in running the budget for a Congressional office. While Administrative Director to Congressman Joel Hefley, Crank helped return hundreds of thousands of dollars back to the taxpayers. Crank noted his work on an amendment in Congress to require that all money not used by a member of Congress be used to buy back outstanding federal debt.
"Congressman Hefley and his staff have done an outstanding job at constituent service," Crank said. "We will continue that service without a massive increase in cost to the taxpayers for more offices and staff."
In addition to the Washington, D.C. office, Lamborn has proposed opening and funding up to six new district offices. Colorado's 3rd congressional district, which spans 29 counties from
southeastern Colorado to the northwest corner of the state, is only represented by a total of five congressional offices, including the office in Washington.
Currently, six states are represented by one member of Congress, each of which has equal to or fewer than six congressional offices. The one-representative states are as follows:
Montana 4 district offices
Alaska 6 district offices
Delaware 2 district offices
Wyoming 3 district offices
South Dakota 3 district offices
North Dakota 2 district offices
"I think if the people of Montana can live with four congressional offices in the entire state, the 5th district would be well represented with two modest yet efficient district offices." Crank noted.
"Honorable and effective congressional representation comes about by being tight with the people's money," Crank said. "The people of Colorado work hard for their money and rightly expect their elected leaders to judiciously spend tax dollars, and that is a commitment I freely give to the people of the 5th congressional district."
http://www.jeffcrank.com/downloads/constituent_service_plan.pdf