Titus touts stimulus in taxpayer-funded mailer

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., has sent her first taxpayer-funded mailer to constituents, a glossy, colorful flier that touts the effects of the economic stimulus legislation.

"My first order of business is to put our economy back on track and create jobs for Nevadans," a smiling Titus tells recipients of the mailer. For Clark County, it says, the effects of the stimulus will include "cutting your taxes and putting money back in your pocket," "putting Nevadans back to work" and "protecting our children's education."

Titus' office said 100,000 of the fliers were sent at a cost of $50,000.

Members of Congress may use their offices' budgets to send constituent mail, a privilege called "franking." It's sometimes been criticized as wasteful or as a use of government for campaign purposes, but most lawmakers of both parties take advantage of it.

Titus spokesman Andrew Stoddard said mail is one of many ways the congresswoman "is communicating with her constituents to let them know about the work she is doing in Washington. The recovery plan is a critical piece of legislation this Congress passed, and it's important to let people in the Third District know how it is going to affect them."

Titus' predecessor, Republican Jon Porter, spent $43,359.24 on franked mail in 2008, according to House records. The most he spent at one time was about $24,000 on a set of mailings that went out in June.