Loebsack using our money for his mailer

Did you receive your mailer from 2nd District Congressman Dave Loebsack? It is a threefold, full-color flyer outlining “Dave's work” in helping the people of the 2nd Congressional District. Printed on the back is the disclaimer: “This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.”

A quick guess at the cost of the flyer: approximately 50,000 residents times 40 cents for printing and 30 cents for postage equals $35,000.

Unfortunately this mailing doesn't do much to inform you of relevant 2nd Congressional District policy or resources. It looks and sounds suspiciously like a campaign flyer. It includes the following quote: “I am committed to continuing the honest and independent representation that Americans deserve and Iowans demand.” Doesn't that sound like a line from a campaign speech?

You and I paid for what appears to be a campaign mailer even though there are laws restricting the use of public funds for re-election publicity. Loebsack knows about those laws too. So why would he risk it?

The only reason I can think of is that he feels he can get away with it. It is just one more example of a public official taking advantage of taxpayer money for his own benefit.

Jan McDanolds

Mystic