ORLANDO, Fla. -- Channel 9 has discovered that taxpayers have spent more than a quarter of a million dollars in the past six months mailing out brochures for two Central Florida lawmakers.

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Orlando congressman Ric Keller and congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, from Lake County, spent more money than any other congressman from Florida.

Keller's chief of staff was unapologetic about the cost of the brochures, even when other Florida congressmen spend far less on mailers.

Keller has kept the post office busy in 2005. His office mailed out 10 brochures to inform registered voters, letting them know he was "cutting wasteful spending" and "working to make sure Central Florida receives its fair share of tax dollars."

According to records just released to Channel 9, in six months time, Keller managed to spend $115,000 on printing and postage, more than any other of the 25 congressmen from Florida.

Brown-Waite came in a very close second, spending nearly the same amount. She represents part of south Lake County.

But many other Florida congressmen were far more frugal. Ten of them spent less than $15,000 on mailers. One spent only $1,300.

"We place a premium on communicating with our constituents," explained Keller's chief of staff, Brian Malenius.

He said all congressman get about a million dollars to spend on everything from travel to rent to postage. They choose to spend money on mailers. Others spend elsewhere. He said a bi-partisan commission approved all of the brochures.

"The notion that it's campaign material is simply not true," he said.

Linda Albert was familiar with the glossy brochures with the messages about cutting wasteful spending. "I tear 'em up and throw 'em away," she said.

She had a message of her own for congressman Keller.

"Stupid, it's ridiculous. They can spend that money on something else," she said.

A spokesman for Brown-Waite sent Channel 9 a statement saying she has to communicate with people who are spread across eight counties and that her constituents deserves that level of communication.