Lamborn’s mail bill bigger than most

Rep. Douglas Lamborn, fighting for a second term, spent the most of any Colorado member of the U.S. House on taxpayer-paid constituent mailings last year.

A Republican who touts fiscal restraint, Lamborn spent $135,606 - roughly $40,000 less than the other six members combined.

Both of Lamborn's challengers for the GOP nomination in the 5th Congressional District called his mail bill excessive and hypocritical.

Lamborn canceled an interview with The Gazette on Monday, issuing a statement instead.

"Congressman Lamborn considers communication to be extremely valuable and makes it the highest priority," said press secretary Kristen Hainen's prepared statement.

She noted Lamborn was among six House members named the 2007 National Taxpayers Union's "Taxpayers' Friend Award" for fiscal conservatism and voting to reduce spending.

"One of the most effective and economical ways to keep 650,000 constituents informed is by sending mail and conducting regular telephone town hall meetings," Hainen wrote.

The public funding of congressional mail is called franking.

Lamborn sent letters to district residents, conducted "teletown hall" meetings on the phone and mailed at least 10 fullcolor mail pieces that resemble campaign brochures and state his positions on defense, family issues, immigration and security.

In one piece, he wrote, "Congress should be mindful of the fact that we are spending your hard-earned tax dollars."

Lamborn's mailings, like those of other members of Congress, are approved by a House oversight committee, which certifies the content is informational, not political. Franked mail is banned for House members 90 days before a primary or general election.

Colorado's other six House members spent $173,771. Second-highest was 7th District Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Lakewood, at $68,483.

Perlmutter's spokeswoman Leslie Oliver said he uses mailings, e-mail, Web chats and telephone town halls.

Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, was third-highest with $53,066. He spent the most on office expenses in 2007 at $1.3 million. Lamborn's $1.28 million was second.

Salazar's office spending is higher because his district covers more than half the state, the largest in Colorado, his spokesman Eric Wortman said. Salazar has four district offices, Wortman said, and his travel expenses likely exceed those with smaller districts.

As for franking, he said Salazar sent several mailings because there's no single newspaper he can use to reach constituents.

Sixth District Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, who isn't running for re-election, had the lowest franking bill, at $6,701.

Rep. Mark Udall, a Democrat from Eldorado Springs representing the 2nd District, also uses e-mailed newsletters, his spokeswoman Tara Trujillo said. Last year, he spent $26,105 on franked mail.

Fifth District candidate Jeff Crank, a Colorado Springs businessman and former aide to Lamborn's predecessor Joel Hefley, who spent $26,725 on franked mail from 2002-06, called Lamborn's spending wasteful and abusive.

"If we're going to stand up and say we're the party of fiscal discipline, we've got to live it," Crank said.

If all 435 House members spent $136,000, it would total $60 million, he said.

Crank vowed, if elected, not to send franked mail other than to answer individual constituent's letters.

Bentley Rayburn, a retired Air Force officer who's also opposing Lamborn, said, "The thing that sits in most people's craws is the hypocrisy of it all. It's like everything else - you gotta practice what you preach. Cutting the federal budget starts at home."

Watchdog groups say franked mail gives incumbents an unfair advantage.

"Our concern is that franking privileges are often seen as an indirect way for lawmakers to campaign on taxpayer money," said Elena Nunez, program director for Colorado Common Cause.