GOP freshmen spend big on cars, PR
By JAKE SHERMAN & JOHN BRESNAHAN
Jun. 8, 2011
They rode into Washington on an anti-spending wave, but some House Republican freshmen are already enjoying one of the perks of incumbency, spending their office budgets on everything from $1,000-a-month car leases to pricey online advertising contracts.
At least 15 GOP freshmen have shelled out tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on mass communication — or franking — designed to boost their exposure back home, even as they call for budget cuts and pared-back government spending, according to quarterly disbursement reports released by the House.
The biggest newly elected spender in this realm is Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who authorized spending $78,518 in taxpayer money on “mass mailings and communications” — just under $900 for every day he was in office during the first three months of his congressional career. Kinzinger sent a pamphlet to his constituents explaining “some of the ways we can help” in interactions with the government. Kinzinger also advertised the “state-of-the-art multimedia section” on his website.
His office told POLITICO in a statement that it has no more plans for franked mail after it sent a mailing to 217,000 houses across the district.
“Because many constituents were unaware of the assistance a congressional office can provide, the mailer our office sent informs residents that their congressional office is here to serve as a valuable resource for them on issues ranging from Medicare and Social Security to veterans’ benefits and immigration. Constituent services are our office’s top priority,” said Brook Hougesen, Kinzinger’s spokeswoman.
But the spending doesn’t stop at constituent communication — GOP freshmen have also spent big money on car leases and consultants.
Texas Rep. Francisco Canseco spent $75,000 on a one-year contract with CampaignGrid LLC, a company that describes itself as “the online advertising platform for candidates and causes.” Canseco’s staff said the costly expenditure is meant to advertise town halls and telephone town halls and has served to publicize the congressional art competition for the West Texas lawmaker.
“This service allows Congressman Canseco to communicate with his constituents,” said Valentina Weis, a spokeswoman for Canseco. “We have been able to inform constituents of services offered by the office like help with federal agencies, [the] time and location of events such as town halls and how government legislation will affect them.”
Minnesota Rep. Chip Cravaack, who unseated longtime Iron Range Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar, spent $1,700 on an automobile lease in March. His office said the price tag is inflated because of initial purchasing costs, but the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox AWD will cost taxpayers “roughly $1,000 [per month] for the remainder of the lease.”...
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