DENVER -- Two Colorado congressmen spent more than $100,000 each of taxpayer money last year to mail constituents fliers that critics say are really a way to bolster their campaigns, a CALL7 investigation found.

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., spent $103,377 on taxpayer-funded mailing and another $168,223 on reproduction costs in 2008, and U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., spent $100,557 last year sending mail to constituents and another $118,831 on copying costs, congressional records show.

Lamborn refused to talk to 7News or provide records showing when the mailings happened. Perlmutter provided both detailed records and sat down for an interview. He said he doesn’t use the mailings to bolster his campaign, but uses the fliers to communicate district residents.

“I communicate with my constituents about what I’m doing and what my office is doing,” Perlmutter said.

But he had trouble explaining why the quarter before the congressionally mandated blackout period, Perlmutter sent nearly double the mailings that he did in first quarter of 2008 and the quarter after the election. Congressional regulations mandate that no mailings go out 90 days before an election and a commission made up of House Democrats and Republicans review the mailings to makes sure they are not political.

“The reason that it went up in that last quarter? Do you know?” asked CALL7 Investigator Tony Kovaleski.

“I don't know,” Perlmutter said. “I don't know. We may have again. Really, I don't know so I guess I shouldn't answer something I don't know."

Perlmutter was open about his mailings, but Lamborn took another tact. His office provided the some of his franked mailings but he refused to provide the detailed quarterly reports and would not do an interview. So CALL7 investigators caught up with him at a town-hall meeting.

“Why not be accountable and transparent?” asked CALL7 Investigator Tony Kovaleski. “You are taking taxpayer money.”

“Send me your questions,” Lamborn said before walking away.

Watchdog groups said taxpayer-funded mailings, known as franked mailing, have often been abused by incumbents to increase their visibility and name recognition.

“The franking privilege is a real advantage for incumbents,” said Chantell Taylor, director of Colorado Ethics Watch.

The CALL7 investigation also found that candidates in safe districts, like U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., sent out a fraction of the mail that Lamborn and Perlmutter sent. DeGette spent $5,748 on mailing and $3,021 on reproduction last year. We reviewed only incumbents franking because the five newly elected members of Congress only had a few quarters of expenses available.

“I do e-newsletters -- those kinds of things so I don't do a lot of frank newsletters," DeGette said. “I really can't second guess why other people would use different methods of communication. I guess all of these congressional districts are different."

Pete Sepp, communications director for the Washington, D.C. based National Taxpayers Union, said the safeguards Congress implemented are not enough. He believes there should be no franked mail during the whole election year and franking should only be used to respond to constituent inquiries.

“This is indeed an election tool,” Sepp said. “Basically when members of Congress are asked to police themselves it might as well be the fox is being asked to watch the hen house.”

Sepp said anyone spending more than $100,000 on franking is in the top tier of Congress for sending out the mailings.

While the fliers do not ask people to vote for the congress people, many of them appear very similar to campaign mailings.

One Lamborn mailing touted: “Congressman Doug Lamborn. Serving our Nation, Serving Southern Colorado, and Serving You.”

A Perlmutter mailing said: “Congressman Ed Perlmutter is fighting for Colorado Families”

“They tout the accomplishments of that particular member of Congress and compliment their work,” Taylor said.

“But they’re not saying re-elect me,” Kovaleski said.

“They're not using the magic words of vote for me or support my campaign,” she said. They’re “not using campaign buzz words, but they sure look like campaign pieces.”