Kelly Anderson Wright

WARNING: Borrowed money always comes with strings.

When Chrysler received a $15 billion bailout of taxpayers’ money, the troubled automaker probably didn’t think that we, the people, would want to have a say in how they spent it.

Uh-oh, looks like Nevadans want to pull some strings.

Super.

Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV) sent a letter Friday asking Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to review Chrysler’s advertising plans, urging the automaker to reconsider advertising on CBS during Super Bowl XLIV, Feb. 7.

Heller seriously questions the wisdom and practicality of Chrysler’s decision to advertise during the Super Bowl, when one 30-second commercial would cost Chrysler nearly $3 million.

Super Bowl ads are traditionally the most expensive on television, because they are actually watched by the game’s nearly 100 million viewers, who often vote for the most creative, funny and memorable ads.

One of Budweiser’s most successful ad campaigns, featuring three frogs named “Bud,” “Weis,” and “Er,” was first aired during Super Bowl XXIX in 1995. That ad lived on in fans’ memories much longer than the actual Super Bowl winner did. (The San Francisco 49ers blew out the San Diego Chargers, 49-26.)

Heller understands that advertising is necessary to promote Chrysler’s product line, but feels Super Bowl ads are just too expensive to justify.

“While this amount is small in comparison to the $15.5 billion Chrysler received from the federal government,” Heller wrote, “It nonetheless is a significant purchase for one slot of time. At a time when executive compensation, perks and bonuses are being reevaluated, and as the American people continue to tighten their belts to deal with the struggling economy, I question the judgment of this strategy.”

The Nevada congressman is particularly sensitive to the feelings of Nevadans, who had three Chrysler dealerships close under the company’s restructuring. Nevada is one of the states hardest hit in the economic downturn, and residents are becoming more vocal about being out of work, losing their homes and feeling as though Washington is more concerned with fixing health care than the economy.

Rep. Heller is an outspoken critic of the health care reform bill being pushed by fellow Nevadan Sen. Harry Reid (D).

“I do not believe the federal government should be running health care in our country and levying massive tax increases on America’s small businesses,” said Heller during the House debate. “However, if this administration and the majority party are going to force government-run health care on the American people, then members of Congress should be required to enroll in that plan. If the government-run ‘public plan’ is good enough for millions of our constituents, then it should be good enough for members of Congress,” he said.

Heller proposed an amendment that would require all members of Congress to join the public option created by Congress. Not surprisingly, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee rejected Dean’s amendment to the House health care bill.

While Rep. Heller does not face re-election this fall, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) does.

If the continued dismal poll numbers for Reid are any indication, Nevadans may decide to pull his strings too, bringing him back to Nevada for good.

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