Nonpartisan government watchdog to investigate White House contracts
with media

RAW STORY


Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Rules
Committee, told RAW STORY Tuesday morning that the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) has agreed to investigate possible
contracts between various media and public relations entities and
seven White House cabinet level departments.

"I am pleased to see the GAO has decided to move forward with my
request for an investigation," Slaughter said in a release.

"We deserve to know if the White House and its cabinet level
departments have engaged in this outrageous abuse and manipulation of
the free press."

The release, advanced to RAW STORY, follows, as does correspondence
from the Government Accountability Office.

The GAO says they will complete the report by October.

In January the Democratic Leadership of the House wrote a letter
requesting the GAO conduct an investigation into use of government
funds for covert propaganda to promote the President's legislation.

"The public should be able to trust that the news they read is
unbiased and straightforward. If the Administration is paying
journalists to report slanted news, the American people have the right
to know," said Rep. Slaughter speaking of propaganda being passed off
as legitimate journalism.

In a letter released by Rep. Slaughter, the GAO said that it would
focus its review on seven different departments within the Executive
Branch: Commerce, Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland
Security, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs.

Within each agency, the GAO will identify the contracts with media
entities and what the purpose and type of work to be performed was in
each contract.

"I am glad that we are finally going to get some real answers to our
questions. This administration should not be able to pass off its
misinformation as impartial news," said Rep. Slaughter.

She continued, "I look forward to seeing the results of this report
and will work to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund
Administration publicity," Rep. Slaughter said.

The GAO is expected to report back with a written statement by October
17, 2005.

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Harry