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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations 
January 6-7, 2001:


Raising money through stamps


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.
 
A semi-postal stamp is one that costs MORE than the postal 
rate, with the extra money going to a charity. A number of 
European countries support causes this way, but so far, the 
U-S has only issued one semi-postal, for Breast Cancer 
Research, and it was fairly controversial. Stamp collectors
called it a tax on their hobby.


Still, it did raise money, and it's brought all sorts of 
calls from Congress for a whole host of pet projects. They 
range from other cancers to better rail crossings.


Collector Mike Smith of Indianapolis took an unscientific 
survey on the Internet recently, and the results were 
surprising. Easily out-distancing the competition was a 
semi-postal for a World War Two monument in Washington, 
picking up nearly half the votes. Cancer and AIDS tied for 
second...far back was Domestic Abuse...and trailing badly 
was Rail Crossing Safety.


All HAVE been proposed by members of Congress...but former 
Senator Bob Dole is backing the World War Two project.


And that's stamp collecting this week. 

I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.


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