Joseph T. Burns: “I'm here to announce my strong support of Senator Collins' bill S. 335, the ``Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement…”

“I'm here to announce my strong support of Senator Collins' bill S. 335, the ``Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act.'' I chose to be an original co-sponsor of this bill after hearing from several constituents who were confused, irritated, and even outraged by the deceptive language that is all too often found in sweepstakes and other promotional mailings. I think every one of us has received at least a few junk mailings which brazenly inform us that we have just won millions of dollars or that we are about to receive a car, a luxury cruise, or some other prize that sounds too good to be true. Well, the sad truth is that it almost always IS too good to be true. To many of us, these promotional mailings represent nothing more than a minor annoyance and are easily tossed into the garbage without a second thought. But for many others, these mailings are nothing more than a cruel hoax, a trap designed to play on the hopes and dreams of trusting folks who were raised in a time when most people meant what they said and said what they meant.”