1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Subject: Taxpayer Dollars Should Not Fund Political Ads I am writing as a concerned constituent, and as someone who believes government should be accountable for every dollar it spends. Television ads featuring the president are airing now with the disclaimer "paid for by the U.S. Government." Variety reports the White House has spent more than $440,000 on them, and a second, 60-second spot has followed. [1] The AP reported that the first ad, which features the president's message and closes with praise from UFC CEO Dana White, began airing on cable news. [2] The White House says these are patriotic public service announcements, not campaign ads. It notes the president is not on the ballot and the ads make no call to action. [1] That deserves a fair hearing, but the questions remain. The ads air in markets that include key midterm districts, weeks before an election. [3] Congress has for decades barred federal funds from being used for "publicity or propaganda," including boosting political candidates or parties, and the Hatch Act limits what federal employees may do with government resources. [4] The president himself is exempt from the Hatch Act, so the question is whether the ads fit the appropriations ban and whether the staff who made them followed the rules. This is not a partisan concern. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called the ad "inappropriate," and Sen. John Kennedy said he opposes politicians spending public money on campaign ads. [1][2] If a Democratic president spent $440,000 of taxpayer money on ads like these before a midterm, I would be writing you the same letter. I am asking for something simple and reasonable: 1. Request that the Government Accountability Office review whether these ads comply with federal law. 2. Ask for a full public accounting of which funds paid for the ads, who produced them, and the total cost. 3. Tell your constituents where you stand. If the ads are lawful, a review will say so. If they are not, taxpayers deserve to know before the election. Whoever holds the office, taxpayers should never be asked to fund a politician's image. Respectfully, A Concerned Constituent