Legislators Urge Appropriators to Keep Anti-Propaganda Language in Final Supplemental Appropriations Bill

Legislators Urge Appropriators to Keep Anti-Propaganda Language in Final Supplemental Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Over 50 Members of Congress led by U.S. Representatives Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3), George Miller (Calif.-7) and Henry A. Waxman (Calif.-30) today urged House and Senate appropriators to retain language in the final Supplemental Appropriations bill that prohibits the use of federal funds to produce covert prepackaged news. Last month the Senate voted to include that language in the Supplemental bill on a vote of 98-0. The appropriations bill is now in conference.

"The amendment passed unanimously by the Senate will ensure that Americans know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent, and who is responsible for the messages they see on television," wrote the lawmakers. "It is critical to ensuring accountability and transparency in government. We urge you to retain this provision in the final Supplemental Appropriations bill.

The full text of the letter follows.

May 2, 2005

Dear Conferee,

We are writing to urge you to retain language in the final Supplemental Appropriations bill that prohibits the use of federal funds to produce covert prepackaged news. The amendment containing this language was passed in the Senate by a vote of 98-0.

The Bush Administration's use of taxpayer dollars for covert propaganda to promote administration policies has become commonplace. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of National Drug Control Policy's illegally produced video news releases which included actors posing as reporters. These prepackaged news stories did not reveal to the television audience that they were paid for and produced by the U.S. government.

Comptroller General David Walker wrote to all federal agencies on February 17th, reiterating the GAO finding that government-produced video news releases that conceal their funding sources violate the federal ban on covert propaganda. However, the Bush Administration has rejected this finding and has instructed agencies that they may continue using video news releases that do not disclose the source of the information.

The amendment passed unanimously by the Senate will ensure that Americans know how their taxpayer dollars are being spent, and who is responsible for the messages they see on television. It is critical to ensuring accountability and transparency in government. We urge you to retain this provision in the final Supplemental Appropriations bill. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

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http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/May/propaganda_letter_05_02_05.html