We've researched many members of Congress and talked with people who work on Capitol Hill. This is not common.
UPDATE: In March, we caught Jack Bergman using a loophole to pay for virtually campaign ads with taxpayer funds. The constituency was disgusted. Now, he's at it again. Take a look for yourself.
To date, Jack Bergman has spent $118,000 — an extraordinary amount — of taxpayer funds on self-promoting Facebook ads.
This is the kind of unethical campaign we're up against. Dr. Bob's campaign is primarily people-powered. We need your help now so when Doc is elected he can help advance campaign finance reform and make this unethical behavior illegal. Can you make a contribution today?
ORIGINAL STORY
Congressional office holders have an advertising allowance to reach constituents. Expenses are approved by a bipartisan oversight committee, but Dr. Lorinser contends the First District Representative's latest ads are a gross misuse of taxpayer funds and go too far.
In total, from Feb. 18 - Mar. 10, Michigan’s First District's Facebook page spent nearly $30,000 on ads that were neither informative nor educational. "These are virtually campaign ads for Jack Bergman." — Dr. Lorinser
WASHINGTON, DC. — Congresspeople need to reach constituents about essential details relating to their work, like how to get emergency relief funds after a natural disaster or changes to social security payments. There are allowances for each office to advertise appropriately about legislative happenings in DC.
This money is not intended to campaign, but the line is thinning and blurring, and Congresspeople on both sides of the aisle every now and again take unfair advantage. Not many, however, are doing it to the extent of Jack Bergman, especially not on social media.
Although these expenses are "legal" technically speaking, Dr. Bob Lorinser is taking serious issue with the content of the Congressman's latest social ads, the amount spent, and deeply condemns the strategy, calling it unethical and unnecessary.
"This isn't constituent engagement," said Dr. Lorinser. "These are virtually campaign ads. It's a disgusting waste of money for taxpayers and an unfair windfall to the incumbent. We desperately need campaign finance reform in this country, and this type of immoral corner-cutting is a component I intend to combat when in Congress. The content of these ads needs serious scrutiny."
One of Bergman's ads — on which he spent an estimated $15,500 of taxpayer funds since Feb. 18 — states, "Biden is considering a policy offering your money to illegal border crossers. Follow my page." Dr. Lorinser debunked this claim last year. Another ad uses similar fearmongering to evoke anger and incite division.
Compared to the $30,000 spent by his office in the last 20 days, Bergman’s donor-funded campaign spent only $2.5k (est.) since Dr. Lorinser entered the race last August, highlighting that the Congressman appears to be substituting campaign-spends with taxpayer-funded advertising because of the election year.
Lorinser urges taxpayers to demand his opponent's campaign reimburse them for the unethical behavior. "He can use his out-of-state corporate PAC money to fund his campaign. Instead, he's using our money. This is wrong."
Dr. Lorinser says the Congressman is likely counting on voters not knowing, but the public can review all political candidates' and office holders' Meta expenses on the ad library at fb.com/adlibrary.
"The more I see and learn about my opponent, the more upset I get," said Dr. Lorinser. "I first noticed his immoral behavior when he claimed residency here because of a seasonal address in the UP. Louisiana is his home. Although it meets the letter of the law to be our Representative, it does not fit within ethical standards of most of people in the First District.
Dr. Lorinser also took issue with Jack Bergman's support of the insurrection and purchasing website domain names that portrayed Dr. Lorinser's identity. E.g., Jack Bergman owns boblorinser.com and several others.
"Let's bring back the best of who we are to the First District," said Dr. Lorinser. "Let's elect a Representative with integrity who lives here, will honor your vote, and be a responsible steward of your hard-earned money."
PS: This message is paid for by the Friends of Dr. Bob for Congress campaign.
About Dr. Lorinser
For his entire career, Dr. Bob Lorinser (D-MI1) has dedicated his life to the service of his community and country.
After receiving three advanced degrees (Medical Doctor, Masters of Social Work, and Masters in Public Health), Dr. Lorinser worked as a social worker in a Veterans Affairs Hospital and as a physician with the Indian Health Service, serving the Navajo Nation. In 1989, he found his home in Michigan's First District, where he practiced family medicine for three decades.
Dr. Bob joined the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Services in 2011 to serve as a diplomat and Regional Medical Officer. The Lorinsers served the United States for ten years, with tours in Pakistan, South Korea, Afghanistan, Morocco, and Iraq.
When he returned to the states in 2020, Dr. Bob offered his services as Medical Director of Marquette County Health Department. He and his wife of 40 years, Peggy, live in Gwinn and have three children and four granddaughters.
Dr. Bob Lorinser hopes to serve and represent constituents in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. He is unopposed in the Democrat primary and poised to face Rep. Jack Bergman (R, Acme) in the general mid-term election this November. For more information, visit VoteDrBob.com.