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“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
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Pelosi, Senior House Democrats Call on the GAO to Examine the Administration’s Use of Covert Propaganda
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and other senior House Democrats asked the General Accountability Office to examine the use of covert propaganda by departments and agencies under the Bush Administration. The text of the letter to GAO follows:
January 11, 2005
The Honorable David M. Walker
Comptroller General
Dear Mr. Walker:
We are writing to request that the Government Accountability Office examine the use of covert propaganda by departments and agencies under the Bush Administration.
In the past year, GAO has released two legal analyses finding that the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy violated the congressional prohibition on publicity and propaganda by distributing fabricated video news reports. Last week, we learned that the Department of Education paid a conservative commentator to support the No Child Left Behind Act in television and radio appearances.
The federal use of covert propaganda is unethical, damaging to our democracy and open society, and, as you know, illegal. While the three incidents described above are deeply troubling and are a cause for concern in their own right, it would be abhorrent to our system of government if these incidents were part of a pattern of covert propaganda funded with taxpayer dollars.
In particular, we request that GAO:
(1) Survey federal departments and agencies to identify and describe all contracts signed since January 1, 2001, with public relations firms, advertising agencies, media organizations, and individual members of the media. Please include in the description (a) the costs of each contract, (b) a summary of the purposes of the contract, (c) the method by which the contract was awarded, and (d) a description of the work performed under the contract.
(2) In the case of any contract identified under (1) that relies on subcontracts, identify and describe the subcontracts. Please include in the description (a) the costs of each subcontract, (b) a summary of the purposes of the subcontract, (c) the method by which the subcontract was awarded, and (d) a description of the work performed under the subcontract.
(3) Assess whether the contracts and subcontracts comply with the prohibitions on publicity and propaganda and the requirements of the Anti-Lobbying Act.
We recognize that a comprehensive survey of federal departments and agencies may be a large undertaking. We ask that you focus your initial attention on covert propaganda related to the following seven topics:
The No Child Left Behind Act and its implementation;
The Medicare Modernization Act and its implementation;
Tax legislation signed or proposed by President Bush;
Social Security reform;
The war in Iraq;
Homeland security;
Energy and the environment.
We are available to work with you to refine this request as you proceed with the investigative work.
Sincerely,
Nancy Pelosi Henry Waxman
Democratic Leader Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Government Reform
George Miller David R. Obey
Ranking Minority Member Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Education and Committee on Appropriations
the Workforce
Elijah E. Cummings John D. Dingell
Ranking Minority Member Ranking Minority Member
Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Committee on Energy and Commerce
Drug Policy and Human Resources
Committee on Government Reform
Louise McIntosh Slaughter Bennie G. Thompson
Ranking Minority Member Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Rules Committee on Homeland Security
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
