After receiving the latest round of taxpayer-funded mailers from Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, I asked for the total cost and, for the second time in two years, was completely ignored.
In 2012, The Columbian did a story on this issue and found that our congresswoman’s bill for mailers came to $190,000 with one on Medicare at $37,000. When asked about it then, she said that she’d probably keep doing it. Herrera Beutler certainly has remained true to her word, as our household has received eight of her expensive mailers since the spring of 2016. During the same period, we’ve received one from Sen. Patty Murray, and I know Sen. Maria Cantwell refrains from the practice entirely.
Even if today’s costs are the same, the total bill would come to a whopping $296,000 — or $122,000 more than her annual salary. In her form letter regarding the tax bill, she said that she was looking out for our tax dollars. Huh? It’s very apparent when it comes to lack of transparency and frivolous spending that our congresswoman is not in second place.
