Lamborn criticized for franking, office expenses

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs) spent $135,606 on taxpayer-funded constituent mailings in 2007 - almost twice as much as any other Colorado congressperson spent on franking, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported Tuesday.

Lamborn used the money to send letters to district residents, conduct "teletown hall" meetings with constituents on the phone and mail at least 10 full-color mail pieces that resemble campaign brochures and state his positions on defense, family issues, immigration and security, according to the Gazette.

Lamborn canceled an interview with The Gazette on Monday. Instead, press secretary Kristen Hainen's issuing a statement instead noting that Lamborn was among six House members named the 2007 National Taxpayers Union's "Taxpayers' Friend Award" for fiscal conservatism and voting to reduce spending.

"Congressman Lamborn considers communication to be extremely valuable and makes it the highest priority," Hainen said in the statement. "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."

The other six members of Colorado's Congressional delegation spent a combined $173,771. U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Lakewood) had the second-highest franking bill, spending $68,483.

Perlmutter uses mailings, e-mail, Web chats and telephone town halls to interact with constituents, spokesperson Leslie Oliver told the Gazette.

Lamborn's office expenses of $1.28 million were second-highest in the delegation, behind U.S. Rep. John Salazar (D-Manassa). A Salazar spokesperson told the Gazette that because the 3rd CD covers more than half the state, Salazar has four district offices and has higher travel expenses.

Lamborn's two CD-5 opponents quickly jumped on him about his spending.

In a Wednesday press release, Jeff Crank's campaign "challenged" Lamborn to answer a series of questions, including whether the $136,000 covered just postage, whether he's specifically targeting assembly delegates and alternates with his mailings and calls, and how much Lamborn has spent on franking so far this year.

CD-5 GOP candidate Jeff Crank's deputy campaign manager Amber O'Connor also criticized Lamborn for maintaining a district office in Buena Vista that O'Connor said "sits empty unless one of (Lamborn's) staffers comes into town on other business - then it's open for a couple hours."

CD-5 GOP candidate Bentley Rayburn manager Mike Hesse said Lamborn "needs to practice at home, in his office, what he preaches."

Hainen did not return phone calls seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.

Lamborn manager Robin Coran, reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, said the questions raised were "very important," but she said she was in Denver on business and didn't want to comment until Thursday.

Lame duck U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) had the lowest franking bill in the delegation, spending $6,701, according to the Gazette.