'Stop Government Propaganda Act' to be Introduced in Senate (by Kennedy)

[Robbien]

NEW YORK In response to continued revelations of government-funded "journalism" -- ranging from the purported video news releases put out by the drug czar's office and the Department of Health and Human Services to the recently uncovered payments to columnists Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher,who flacked administration programs -- Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) will introduce a bill, The Stop Government Propaganda Act, in the Senate next week.

"It's just not enough to say, 'Please don't do it anymore,'" Alex Formuzis, Lautenberg's spokesman, told E&P. "Legislation sometimes is required and we believe it is in this case." The Stop Government Propaganda Act states, "Funds appropriated to an Executive branch agency may not be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States unless authorized by law."

"It's time for Congress to shut down the Administration's propaganda mill," Lautenberg said in a statement. "It has no place in the United States Government." The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jon Corzine (D-N.J.).

. . .

The act would allow citizens to bring qui tam lawsuits on behalf of the United States government when the Department of Justice does not respond. If the matter is taken to court, the bill proposes that the senior official responsible would be fined three times the amount of the "misspent taxpayer funds" plus an additional fine ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. And if a citizen's qui tam suit is accepted, the bill proposes that the plaintiff receives between 25 and 30% of the proceeds of the fine.

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000778976

[arcane1]

1. sweet!

now THIS is how Dems are supposed to act!

:toast:

[Eloriel]

5. Yeah. DAMN, I'm so surprised

it almost feels like I'm back in the OLD America. LOL -- now I've got a case of whiplash cognitivie dissonance. There's my regular dissonance (what I know as real isn't what's reflected in the media), and now there's this little c.d. from having the Dems actually doing something fairly aggressive. Wow.

[renaissanceguy]

40. How about IMPEACHMENT

to recover for the damages already done?!

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/472476

[liberalnurse]

66. I just got a campaign donation request

letter the other day from Senator Kennedy. I'm going to send $100.00.

[demnan]

2. Wow!

You go Teddy and Frank!

[Cobalt Violet]

3. How can anyone vote against it.

It will be interesting to see how the gop spin their votes against this.

[Liberty Belle]

62. The GOP won't bring it up for a vote...unless the public forces the issue.

They'll do their best to bury it in committee and NEVER let this one see the light of day.

[Just Me]

4. A GREAT bill for the American people!!!!

Of course, I still want to see follow-up on the pattern of tax-funded deception by this neoCONimperialist regime!!! It is further evidence of a broader pattern of deceit which I assert constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors" and a breach of their oathes of office.

[Walt Starr]

6. BREAKING NEWS: Democratic Party begins painful chordate evolution

Good on them!

[PleadTheFirst]

7. I love my state.

Never been more proud of being from New Jersey, or to have Frank Lautenberg and Jon Corzine as my representatives. :)

[Jersey Ginny]

21. I'm wit ya

NJ is a good state! Lautenberg is really asserting himself lately. I didn't like Corzine not voting against Condoliesa. I wish he'd stay in the senate. Codey is a strong and ethical dem so far and I'd be happy if he'd run.

[CheshireCat]

8. How will the Bushista's counter this legislation?

This bill sounds like an excellent first step in countering the misuse of our tax $$$$.

[Robbien]

10. Yes. About time Democrats got into the game of labelling bills

so that it will be hard to vote against it.

[meow2u3]

11. Simple. The Rethug Congress will legally authorize covert propaganda

and call it "public service announcements", just as long as the executive branch is controlled by the Rethugs :eyes:

[never cry wolf]

12. Don't forget, they have the majority in both houses

That means that they chair every committee and set every agenda. They decide what issues make it to the floor, or even for committee vote. I suspect this will be stuck in committee indefinitely until it quietly becomes a distant memory unless there are some repukes with integrity left.

[merwin]

26. Exactly. It will never go anywhere unfortunately.

[Politicub]

27. It may not get to a vote

But the PR value is high. The dems are striking while the iron is hot. The whitehouse paying columnists is a relatively fresh story. This will get picked up in many local papers.

I like the spine Boxer et al have developed. The dems more reasonable policies stand in stark contrast to the extremist ones pushed by Bush and the right.

[chicagojoe]

59. So true, but...

...right now is the time to strike. The Radical Right is grasping at any credibility they can right now. After a while, they'll give up on it, and act any way they want once again.

[AlinPA]

15. They will vote it down in the Senate (they are still in control, you know)

[Jersey Ginny]

22. Repukes will say it is already policy so this bill is redundant

Didn't we hear that load of crap recently from Condoliesa about removing the torture language from a Senate sponsored bill?

[wicket]

9. I love this comment by Kennedy:

"The President said that his cabinet agencies made a mistake when they paid commentators to promote his agenda," Kennedy said in a statement. "It's more than just a mistake, it's an abuse of taxpayer funds and an abuse of the First Amendment and freedom of the press. ... If the President is serious about stopping these abuses, he will support this legislation."


Hehehehehehe :)

[Liberty Belle]

63. It's actually a crime already. But Justice won't prosecute it.

This bill's point is to allow any citizen to file suit if the Justice Dept won't do its job.

[420inTN]

13. Too bad it won't restrict Congress..

"Funds appropriated to an Executive branch agency may not be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States unless authorized by law."

So, the Legislative and Judicial branches will still be able put forth propaganda, just not the Executive branch.

[antigone382]

23. Congress and the courts don't get those funds.

Congress and the justice system don't execute the laws, they just decide what they are and whether they're Constitutional, respectively. Therefore, they don't get the funding for executing those laws. Only the Executive Branch does.

[fooj]

14. I'm glad they are calling it exactly what it is...PROPAGANDA!

Amen to that! Wake up America!

[Rainscents]

16. Go Dems!!!

About dam time!!!

[DearAbby]

18. Ahhhhh Was that a whiff of Freedom? This is so sweet.

Of course they need our help, to get this running, they need us to push this. Shame the Repukes into responding. Otherwise it will die of neglect in committee.

[Politicub]

28. Shhh... don't hate

But the left has its own echo chamber with blogs and AAR. We can keep this bill kicked. :kick:

The naming and timing of this bill was masterful. Have the dems grown a spine? It makes me giddy.

[leveymg]

17. Practically EVERYTHING from the * White House Is Propaganda

If this is enacted, I foresee some interesting law suits. While we're at it can we get a Bill introduced that allows citizens to sue Chimp and his flying monkeys for the value of monies misspent on the Iraq War? Let's call it the Stop Illegal Wars Act.

[Robbien]

19. It will be interesting if this bill applied to the faith-based initiative

money. Billions have flowed through that system and propaganda is rife through all its recipients.

[UncleSepp]

20. NOT GOOD - this bill is a Trojan Horse

Here's why:

"Funds appropriated to an Executive branch agency may not be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States unless authorized by law."

Is it acceptable to use funds approprated to an agency of another branch for domestic propaganda purposes? NO. Get that language out. Is it ever acceptable for any public funds to be authorized by law? NO. Get that language out, too. It is ALREADY illegal to use government funds for propaganda purposes: the GAO agrees.

From USA Today, which broke the Williams story, these are some of the applicable laws:

* The Anti-Lobbying Act of 1919, which prohibits “the use of any federal funds to ‘directly or indirectly’ influence government policy through any ‘personal service, advertisement, telegram, telephone, letter, printed or written matter, or other device.’”

* The Anti-Deficiency Act of 1906, which bars government officials from spending money for any purpose not authorized by congress.

* Appropriation bills routinely contain provisions that forbid the use of federals funds for “‘publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States not heretofore authorized by Congress.’”

Furthermore, the definition of propaganda itself is weak:

Publicity or propaganda is defined in the bill as: news releases or publications that do not clearly identify the government agency responsible for the content; audio/visual or Internet presentations that do not identify the responsible government agency; any attempt to manipulate journalists or news organizations; messages created to aid a political party or candidate; messages with a "self-aggrandizing" purpose or "puffery of the Administration, agency, executive branch programs or policies or pending legislation"; and, finally, messages that are "so misleading or inaccurate that they constitute propaganda."

"Puffery"? "PUFFERY??!? What kind of language is PUFFERY to go into a bill? Does it mean everything we need it to mean to prevent our money from being used to propagandize us? Here's the best definition I could come up with:

"A systematic effort to increase the importance or reputation of by favorable publicity"

So, if an executive agency has an idea it wishes to destroy rather than an idea it wishes to... puff... is that legal under the terms of this act? It would seem so. Executive agencies can "puff" with impunity any concept not tied to pending legislation, acts, or policies. Maybe with this they can "puff" out some social issues propaganda? Keep people excited about the war on terra?

Finally, the identification of the government agency responsible does not turn propaganda into journalism, nor does it make a malicious message innocent. Even in plain sight, the government of a democracy should not be in the business of telling its citizens what to believe and what to think. Such top down dissemination of opinion inverts the spirit and purpose of democracy itself, and must not be tolerated in any measure by a free people.

What I would want to see in place of this bill would be a bill explicitly stating what kinds of domestic public communications may be paid for by a government agency of any branch using appropriated funds. Anything not explicitly allowed ought to be forbidden. We the people are the ones who have the right of free speech, under which all speech not explicitly forbidden is allowed. Our public servants, in the exercise of the offices we have given them, do not have that right and ought not.

[swag]

24. All Your Pundit Are Belong To Us!

[struggle4progress]

25. Columnist Group Prez Denounces Payments to Pundits

By Dave Astor

Published: January 27, 2005 1:00 PM ET

NEW YORK "You cannot serve two masters. Either you are an unflinchingly independent journalist, or you are a public-relations officer."

Those were the words of Suzette Standring, president of the National Society of Newspapers Columnists (NSNC), commenting today on Universal Press Syndicate columnist Maggie Gallagher's receiving $21,500 from the Department of Health and Human Services for marriage-themed writing projects.

"Armstrong Williams, now Maggie Gallagher -- a disturbing pattern has emerged of governmental agencies using columnists to advance their agenda," said Standring, a self-syndicated columnist based in Massachusetts. "Unwittingly or not, the independence and integrity of the opinions of such columnists have now been compromised."

She added that the NSNC "has long been clear on its
stand of ethics on this matter." Standring said the organization's code of conduct includes the words: "I will offer my opinions and the reasons I hold them as clearly and as fairly as I can. I will never take advantage of my position to achieve unwarranted personal gain not available to others or use my column to settle
personal scores. I will disclose potential conflicts to readers whenever possible." <snip>

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000779005

[jazzjunkysue]

29. But, I've already got my new car on order! Not fair!

[NashVegas]

30. kick

..

[NVMojo]

31. Sens. to Introduce 'Stop Government Propaganda Act'

January 27, 2005
NEW YORK In response to continued revelations of government-funded "journalism" -- ranging from the purported video news releases put out by the drug czar's office and the Department of Health and Human Services (news - web sites) to the recently uncovered payments to columnists Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher,who flacked administration programs -- Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) will introduce a bill, The Stop Government Propaganda Act, in the Senate next week.


"It's just not enough to say, 'Please don't do it anymore,'" Alex Formuzis, Lautenberg's spokesman, told E&P. "Legislation sometimes is required and we believe it is in this case."


The Stop Government Propaganda Act states, "Funds appropriated to an Executive branch agency may not be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States unless authorized by law."


"It's time for Congress to shut down the Administration's propaganda mill," Lautenberg said in a statement. "It has no place in the United States Government." The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jon Corzine (D-N.J.).


more...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=90&e=2&u=/ep/20050127/en_bpiep/senstointroducestopgovernmentpropagandaact

[chicagojoe]

32. How about a deep investigation into FOX "News" ?

[NVMojo]

33. Is America really ready for a real news story? The story of Fox corruption

might be more then they can handle out in "mom and pop" land....

[chicagojoe]

34. But the truth shall set them free.

[NVMojo]

35. I can only hope so ....

[Carolab]

36. Does that mean they have to stop lying about Social Security too? n/t

[No Exit]

37. Nice thought, but they might as well make a law

called the "Stop Government Officials From Earning Money by Influence-Peddling" Act.

Government propaganda will not be stopped by a law. It can only be stopped bit by bit--individual by individual. That is, each individual must become informed enough to recognize it and give it the necessary skepticism.

Of course, Bush' foul presence in the White House has turned skepticism of the government into an essential daily survival habit--a habit that is now as necessary as are eating, drinking, and sleeping.

[radfringe]

38. add another press puppy to the biscuit list!

add another press puppy to the biscuit list!


Armstrong, Williams, Maggie Gallagher and now.. Michael McManus


Third columnist caught with hand in the Bush till
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/27/mcmanus/index_np.html
Michael McManus, conservative author of the syndicated column "Ethics & Religion," received $10,000 to promote a marriage initiative.
By Eric Boehlert -- Jan. 27, 2005

And three makes a trend.

One day after President Bush ordered his Cabinet secretaries to stop hiring commentators to help promote administration initiatives, and one day after the second high-profile conservative pundit was found to be on the federal payroll, a third embarrassing hire has emerged. Salon has confirmed that Michael McManus, a marriage advocate whose syndicated column, "Ethics & Religion," appears in 50 newspapers, was hired as a subcontractor by the Department of Health and Human Services to foster a Bush-approved marriage initiative. McManus championed the plan in his columns without disclosing to readers he was being paid to help it succeed.

Responding to the latest revelation, Dr. Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at HHS, announced Thursday that HHS would institute a new policy that forbids the agency from hiring any outside expert or consultant who has any working affiliation with the media. "I needed to draw this bright line," Horn tells Salon. "The policy is being implemented and we're moving forward."

---snip--

Horn says McManus, who could not be reached for comment, was paid approximately $ 10,000 for his work as a subcontractor to the Lewin Group, a health care consultancy hired by HHS to implement the Community Healthy Marriage Initiative, which encourages communities to combat divorce through education and counseling. McManus provided training during two-day conferences in Chattanooga, Tenn., and also made presentations at HHS-sponsored conferences. His syndicated column has appeared in such papers as the Washington Times, the Dallas Morning News and the Charlotte Observer.

[Liberty Belle]

64. Yes, and this one writes a column about ETHICS!

Something he obviously lacks.

[sherilocks]

39. Original article from Editor and Publisher

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000778976

Plus more articles on this subject.

[bemildred]

41. How about the "Restoring public faith in government lies act?"

Not that this is a bad idea, it might help.

[NashVegas]

42. kick

..

[Liberty Belle]

43. Senators to Intro Stop Goverment Propaganda Act (bounties pd to citizens!)

SENATORS TO INTRODUCE “STOP GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA ACT” :

(This bill would allow citizens to sue the Government over covert propaganda if the Justice Department fails to take action—and better yet, citizens who win can collect hefty bounties!)


EDITOR & PUBLISHER (1/27/2005)--In response to continued revelations of government-funded "journalism" -- ranging from the purported video news releases put out by the drug czar's office and the Department of Health and Human Services to the recently uncovered payments to columnists Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher,who flacked administration programs -- Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) will introduce a bill, The Stop Government Propaganda Act, in the Senate next week.
. . .The Stop Government Propaganda Act states, "Funds appropriated to an Executive branch agency may not be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States unless authorized by law."
"It's time for Congress to shut down the Administration's propaganda mill," Lautenberg said in a statement. "It has no place in the United States Government." The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jon Corzine (D-N.J.). . .

The act would allow citizens to bring qui tam lawsuits on behalf of the United States government when the Department of Justice does not respond.

If the matter is taken to court, the bill proposes that the senior official responsible would be fined three times the amount of the "misspent taxpayer funds" plus an additional fine ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. And if a citizen's qui tam suit is accepted, the bill proposes that the plaintiff receives between 25 and 30% of the proceeds of the fine…

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000778976

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go. . .

[mbperrin]

44. Yes!

nt

[havocmom]

45. Nice name. Thanks, Senators Kennedy & Lautenberg for calling it

what it is. No mincing of words. Bravo!

[Liberty Belle]

46. OK, start media-blasting this everywhere--MSM, local papers, foreign press

We can't let the REPS in Congress sweep this under the rug and bury it.

[Pam-Moby]

47. Oh what good news, but lets see if it get accepted. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

48. Would this apply internally to the Social Security Agency personnel

telling people that Soc Sec is in trouble or putting fliers in the checks saying that their next check may not arrive?

.The Stop Government Propaganda Act states, "Funds appropriated to an Executive branch agency may not be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States unless authorized by law."

[AuntiBush]

49. Proud of my Senators!

Senator Mikulski & Sarbanes sat with Sen. Lautenberg today to stop SSI propaganda, during the hearing which took place with Franklin D. Roosevelt's grandson and Social Security employees (60 yrs service between them) not only denouncing this very type of govt funded action but using fear tactics about Social Security that are out and out lies.

Of course, this will probably be retro-active, meaning the Bushivits prior pandering will go under our bridge of murky-waters of troubles.

But it's a great start! We've got 1 interesting year ahead to watch our people fight. I just feel bad for them, up there on the front lines of hell!

:freak:

[ailsagirl]

50. It's so gratifying to hear about things like this...

May our Democratic Senators and reps get more and more outspoken about the BS that's raining down in Washington.

Up until now, they've had it pretty cushy. But it's their job to stand up for us-- I'm hoping Boxer started the ball rolling, bless her heart.

She's my senator (as I've said many times)-- I never mention Feinstein because I don't even consider her a senator. As far as I'm concerned, she's done nothing to stand up to the neocons.

[twaddler01]

51. But...

Would this stop what is happening now?

[ailsagirl]

53. Well, it's a start

[NVMojo]

52. this is a great idea, in my opinion, pay people for being honest!!!

I posted this here a couple of days ago, glad to see it is still being read in a new post, we need to get the word out about this as the MSM isn't going to ...

[ailsagirl]

54. Hi NV!! We think alike

:)

[aikido15]

55. Let's hope it passes...

Lot's of grassroots work to be done here.

Activism works. Major stuff happening this week...battle won over FCC. Deregulation that was introduced by Powell will not happen thanks to grassroots campaign. They went up against Viacom, CBS, and other giant corporations and WON!

Bush says he is not going to introduce any plans for outlawing abortion also.

Yipeeee!

I just hope it's not a trick...yikes.

[rodeodance]

56. i have not heard anything about this on MSM--has anyone else?

[Liberty Belle]

65. No, so start blasting e-mails to the media! Demand that they cover this.

[Walt Starr]

57. What if Big Tobacco decides to pay the fine for a HHS secretary

who pays pundits for saying tobacco isn't that bad?

I think this should be a federal crime with ten years minimum as a sentence.

[TomClash]

58. Under the Republicans

you'd need a whole new army of police and prosecutors to enforce this legislation.

[Tinoire]

60. The party just broke. It's now the Kennedy wing vs the Clinton wing

GOOD !!!!

I prune my garden once a year. To the Democratic Party, better late than never.

GO TEDDY!!!!!

[ckramer]

61. Edward Kennedy is my senator. Very very proud of him!