The Bush Administration's use of a private PR firm will be investigated by congress for potential illegal activities stemming from the revelation that the Bush Administration was paying Williams to promote the No Child Left Behind bill. I don't know about you, but this is one thing I don't want my tax dollars being spent on. I don't want to pay for the government to advertise to me.
Paige Orders Probe Into Williams Deal (Link to Full Story)
By BEN FELLER, AP Education Writer
WASHINGTON - Investigations by the Education Department and Congress are forcing the Bush administration to defend its use of a public relations company to promote the president's schools agenda.
The department has committed at least $1.3 million to the company, including $240,000 that went to a business run by conservative commentator and columnist Armstrong Williams. He produced ads with Education Secretary Rod Paige that promoted the No Child Left Behind Act.
Williams was also hired to provide media time to Paige and to persuade other blacks in media to talk about the law, records show. Williams and Paige say the arrangement was legal; some lawmakers and media critics contend it amounted to propaganda.
On Thursday, less than a week after news of the deal became public, senators demanded department records, a Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) member requested an investigation, and Paige began an internal review.
In an interview published Thursday night on USA Today's Web site, Bush said, "The Cabinet needs to take a good look and make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again."
"I think there needs to be a clear distinction between journalism and advocacy," the president said. "And I appreciate the way Armstrong Williams has handled this, because he has made it very clear that he made a mistake."
Rep. George MillerD-Calif., said Paige's statement shows that the administration is not taking the matter seriously enough. The Bush approach is "never admit your mistake, never apologize," said Miller, the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
Also Thursday, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate panel that oversees education spending asked for three years of department records of public relations contracts.
Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, reminded Paige in their letter that federal law bans the use of public money on propaganda.
They want a list of any grant, contract or arrangement of public money being used "for public relations or anything similar to the purpose of the Ketchum contract" from the 2002, 2003 and 2004 budget years.
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Yes, but it does so much for former Congressmen's private careers... think about their welfare for once. These poor men have to scrap by on only $162,100 per year while they serve us in DC. Think of what they have given up for you... I think billions of dollars in wasted tax money is a small price to pay, don't you?
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