#nc-02: Nee-Nee sticks us with the bill

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What’s bad for brawlin’ Bobby E. is apparently A-Okay for Nee-Nee. (Gosh, we’re poetic this morning.) etheridge

We’ve written extensively about stuff that show up in our mailboxes here in the Second District from congresswoman Renee Ellmers.  They show up right about campaign time.  They look just like campaign propaganda.  But they include a stamp that looks like a signature — and a disclaimer that its paid for with taxpayer funds.  That’s a frank.  It’s meant to be used for official correspondence with consituents (casework, responding to commentary about pending legislation, etc.).

Jim Duncan, one of her primary challengers for 2016, has had enough.  He’s fired off a letter to Ellmers expressing his displeasure:

[…]

 Dear Congresswoman Ellmers,

At least four times this year, you mailed (and emailed) letters and newsletters from your Congressional office to voters across the district. In every way these mailings resembled typical campaign ads, except they were paid for by taxpayers and not by your campaign.
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In the text of one pamphlet you mailed you told voters you are “defending families and children” in Washington. How much did this mailing (and your emailings) cost taxpayers? How many people received the mailings and emails? How can you explain writing taxpayers that you are “defending families and children” when you are wasting thousands of dollars of their money on political mailings to help you get reelected?

You are borrowing money that these children will have to repay long after you leave office. Congresswoman, you have $400,000 dollars in your campaign account, much of it donated by lobbyists and special interests. Why didn’t you have your campaign pay for your political ads – instead of sticking the taxpayers with the bill?

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan
Conservative Candidate for Congress

This might be a bit of déjà vu all over again for Ellmers.  She had the same complaint against Bob Etheridge when she ran against him in 2010:

Dear Congressman Etheridge,

Last week, you mailed (and emailed) letters and newsletters from your Congressional office to voters across the district. In every way these mailings resembled typical campaign ads, except they were paid for by taxpayers and not by your campaign.etheridge

In the text of one pamphlet you mailed you told voters you are “reducing the deficit and restoring budget discipline” in Washington.  How much did this mailing (and your emailings) cost taxpayers? How many people received the mailings and emails? How can you explain writing taxpayers that you are “reducing the deficit” when you are wasting thousands of dollars of their money on political mailings to help you get reelected?

Congressman, you have over a million dollars in your campaign account, much of it donated by unions and Wall Street special interests. Why didn’t you have your campaign pay for your political ads – instead of sticking the taxpayers with the bill?

Sincerely,

Renee Ellmers
P.O. Box 904
Dunn, North Carolina 28335

(We found this letter STILL on her official campaign web site — FIVE years later.) It worked for her in 2010.  It may likely work against her in 2016.