WASHINGTON, D.C. - As a freshman congressman, Daniel Lipinski wanted to ensure constituents knew what he was doing, but he rarely got mentioned in Chicago news stories. So he spent $230,000 in taxpayers' money to get his message across.

The Illinois Democrat spent more than any other member of the state's congressional delegation on mailings to constituents during 2005-06 through the use of "franking'' privileges.

Federal law grants the privilege to members of Congress, allowing them to spend money from their office budget on postage-free mailings to constituents - often newsletters and brochures extolling the lawmakers' own virtues.

"I continue to be a leader in Washington introducing and passing legislation to help improve your everyday lives,'' Lipinski told constituents in one flier.

Lipinski might have been the biggest spender in Illinois' House delegation during 2005-06, but he was far from alone. The 19 members spent a total of $1.85 million by using franking privileges.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a Democrat from Chicago's north side, was second, spending $215,000. Rep. Jerry Weller, a Morris Republican, was a distant third with $164,000 in expenses.

Lipinski, a former University of Tennessee professor who wrote a book entitled "Congressional Communications,'' says he used the mailings appropriately - to tell constituents what their new representative was doing.

He filled their mailboxes with six-page newsletters, invitations to town meetings, postcards announcing seminars on Medicare's new drug program and letters on such topics as veterans' issues.

"If you look at the local newspapers, there's very few times you'll see what I'm doing here,'' he told The Associated Press during a recent interview in his Capitol Hill office.

"Being in the Chicago area, it's very difficult to break into that,'' he added. "It's usually bad news that gets in there - corruption, anything that is sort of not really about government work.''

The money allowed under the franking privilege comes from lawmakers' office budgets, so the more they spend on mailings the less they have for rent, staff salaries and other expenses. In the end, taxpayers reimburse the Postal Service for the mailings.

The mailings must be approved by a House commission to ensure they don't solicit political support or arrive within 90 days of an election.

Rockford GOP Rep. Donald Manzullo has never spent money on mass mailings during a 14-year congressional career. He has returned to the treasury more than $1.1 million in unused office allowances, spokesman Rich Carter said.

Rep. Ray LaHood, a Peoria Republican, considers the taxpayer-funded mass mailings "self-promotion'' and has repeatedly introduced legislation to ban the practice. "It's a waste of the taxpayers' money,'' LaHood said.

Emanuel, Illinois' No. 2 user of franking, considers the mailings "vital to his ability to fully represent the people,'' said spokeswoman Kathleen Connery. He uses them to tell constituents about local events, legislation he supports and national issues.

Weller, who ranked No. 3, did not respond to requests from The Associated Press for comment.

Lipinski acknowledged that some mailings are difficult to differentiate from advertising, and said he understands how some people may view them as propaganda.

But he said some House members may send less mail because they don't feel any need to communicate, or believe they have made their reputation and don't need to exert as much effort.

Lipinski occupies the seat that his father held for 22 years. He was chosen in 2004 by his father and other local political bosses as the Democratic nominee after William Lipinski decided not to run again.

The son skated to victory that year. In 2006, his only competition was an ex-clown who had repeatedly run for public office and always failed.

But Lipinski says while he might not need the mailings to help him hold on to his seat, they serve an important role.

"I want people to know who I am. I am not my father,'' he said. "This is me. This is what I'm doing and I specifically want people to know that.''