http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005126B00.htmlLawmakers Call on GAO to Open Investigation into Illegal Use of Taxpayer Funds to Promote Bush Social Security Plan
Letter Also Sent to President Bush Calling on Him to Stop Using Social Security Funds to Manipulate Public Opinion Through Official Documents
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WASHINGTON, DC -- A group of leading United States Senators today requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) open an investigation into the Bush Administration's illegal use of taxpayer dollars to promote its Social Security privatization plan. In their letter, the Senators charge that the Administration's action violated two laws that prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars for grassroots lobbying. "We are writing to alert you to an illegal use of taxpayer funds by the Social Security Administration, and request an expedited legal decision on the matter," the senators wrote.
Signing the letter along with Senator Lautenberg were Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Jon S. Corzine, Jack Reed, Carl Levin and Mark Dayton. The letter points to a series of documents illustrating the illegal Social Security "grassroots lobbying" effort, including:
• The SSA "Communications/Marketing Tactical Plan"
• The "Your Social Security Statement" mailed to 140 million Americans •
• An e-mail from White House Deputy Political Director Peter Wehner
Those documents in addition to the senators' letter to GAO and companion letter to the President can be found at: www.lautenberg.senate.gov/sspropaganda.html "The President cannot turn the Social Security Administration into his own lobby shop," said Senator Lautenberg. "The job of the Social Security Administration is to serve people who rely on Social Security -- not brainwash them."
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http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/sspropaganda.htmlLetters and Documents on Social Security Covert Propaganda Letter sent by Senator Lautenberg to the General Accountability Office (GAO) on January 26, 2005 http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/images/SS%20Propaganda/letter%20to%20Walker%20on%20SSA%20propaganda.pdfPersonalized Social Security statement generated by SSA to estimate Social Security benefits and reported earnings. Page 1 -
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Social Security Administration Tactical Plan http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/images/SS%20Propaganda/comobj%205%20educate%20all%20audiences%20ver%203%201200411.pdf2005 Social Security National Strategic Communications Plan http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/images/SS%20Propaganda/Final%20FY%202005%20National%20Strategic%20Communications%20Plan%201%20.pdfEmail by White House political aide Peter Wehner
http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/images/SS%20Propaganda/Wehner%20email1.pdf