FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 28, 2005

President Urged to Order Full Disclosure of Covert Propaganda

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Democratic leadership and Ranking Democratic Members sent a letter to President Bush asking him to direct the release of all contracts for secret publicity campaigns to promote Administration policies.

The text of the letter follows.

January 28, 2005

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to request that you direct each department and agency of the Executive Branch to disclose to the appropriate Committee of the House of Representatives all public relations and advertising contracts signed during your Administration.

Over the past year, multiple investigations have revealed that federal agencies have employed secret publicity campaigns to promote administration priorities. 

·      In separate analyses, the Government Accountability Office found 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.[1] 

·      An investigative report by USA Today revealed that the Department of Education paid a conservative commentator to support the No Child Left Behind Act in television and radio appearances.[2] 

·      Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported the Department of Health and Human Services had a contract with a syndicated columnist who promoted the President’s marriage initiative.[3] 

·      A newly released congressional report found that public relations spending has more than doubled during the Bush Administration.[4]

·      And today, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and Salon.com  reported that the Department of Health and Human Services paid another conservative commentator thousands of dollars to support the marriage initiative, including by speaking about the importance of marriage to churches and community organizations.[5]

These developments raise serious concerns.  Covert propaganda campaigns are unethical and illegal.  Those disclosed to date mislead the American people about public policy and deceive the news media and press about the credibility of critiques of Administration policies.  We very much hope the contracts revealed to this point are an aberration and not part of a pattern across federal agencies. 

To assist us in understanding the scope of public relations and propaganda contracted for by federal agencies, we request that you provide to the Democratic Leader, and to the appropriate Committee of jurisdiction, the following:

(1)   All contracts executed during the Bush Administration with public relations firms, advertising agencies, public opinion research firms, media organizations, and individual members of the media, including any modifications of such contracts. 

(2)   All subcontracts executed under the contracts identified under (1), including any modifications of such subcontracts.

(3)   Any documents or communications that describe or assess the work performed under these contracts and subcontracts.

(4)   A copy of the justification and approval documents for any of these contracts entered into using less than full and open competition.

The possibility of a widespread practice of covert propaganda raises the most serious of concerns.  The Congress, the press, and the American people all deserve a full disclosure of the Administration’s policy on such propaganda.

It has already been nearly one month since the Democratic Leader and Ranking Members Henry Waxman, George Miller, David Obey, and Elijah Cummings wrote to you requesting full disclosure of these contracts.[6]  To date, we have received no reply to that inquiry.  Now that there have been additional revelations, we would appreciate your cooperation with this inquiry, and would appreciate a complete response by March 1, 2005.

Sincerely,

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, House Democratic Whip

Rep. Robert Menendez, Chairman, House Democratic Caucus

Rep. James E. Clyburn, Vice Chair, House Democratic Caucus

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Co-Chair, Steering and Policy Committee

Rep. Dave R. Obey, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Appropriations

Rep. Ike Skelton, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Armed Services                            

Rep. John M. Spratt, Jr., Ranking Minority Member, Committee on the Budget

Rep. George Miller, Ranking Minority Member Committee on Education and the Workforce    

Rep. John D. Dingell, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Government Reform

Rep. Bennie Thompson, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Homeland Security

Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on House Administration

Rep. Tom Lantos, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on International Relations

Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Minority Member, Committee on the Judiciary

Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Rules

Rep. Bart Gordon, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Science

Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Small Business                 

Rep. James L. Oberstar, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Transportation                     

Rep. Lane Evans, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Ways and Means

“ 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