'Stop Government Propaganda Act' to be Introduced in Senate

[Q]

'Stop Government Propaganda Act' to be Introduced in Senate

By Brian Orloff

Published: January 27, 2005 12:10 PM ET


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.). Formuzis told E&P that while the bill is being introduced by Democrats, its message and intent is something endorsed by Republicans and Democrats alike.

"We only have a few senators on the bill so far, but we hope and expect that we'll get a number of others to sign on to the legislation once we introduce it," he said. "This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is an issue about an independent press, and I think that's something that will cross party lines." 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.

"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."

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

[BuyingThyme]

1. We need an act for that?

All we need is an attorney general.

[Raksha]

18. An Attorney General?

Don't expect any action in this area out of Thumbscrew Gonzales.

[babylonsister]

2. Wow, Kennedy is on a roll!

I'm so glad this is being done. This is a travesty that we as taxpayers have been paying for propaganda that benefits this admin when so many of us are so against anything ShrubCo stands for. I only hope this act grows legs and gets lots of attention.

[fooj]

3. Amen!

This is a relief! Good going... Kudos for calling it what it is...PROPAGANDA!!!! Wake up people!

[wicket]

4. I LOVE IT!!!!

:kick:

[Walt Starr]

5. BREAKING NEWS: Democratic Party begins painful chordate evolution

EXCELLENT!!!!

Durbin is getting another email from me!

[Colorado Blue]

9. Sent letter to Sen. Durbin (hooray!) n/t

[Arkana]

20. I think a better title would be

DEMOCRATIC PARTY FINDS ITS TESTICLES
'They Were Under The Couch The Whole Time,' says Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

[intheflow]

23. Best post ever!

LMAO! :yourock:

[MuseRider]

6. Thank goodness.

This needs to be heard and dealt with. This is good news today.

[KoKo]

7. Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will need support for this....n/t

[Tyrone Slothrop]

8. How sad is this?

I cannot believe that the government of the United States --The Great Experiment, the bastion of Democracy-- has to introduce a "Stop Government Propaganda Act".

It makes me want to weep.

[EVDebs]

16. Years after the horse left the barn ! Operation Mockingbird has been

fully exploited already by administration needing credibility for its incredible policies. The only way to get that is by paying journalists (if that's what you want to call them). Just look at what NYTimes Judith Miller was doing. Rewriting CIA / Chalabi talking points on everything from CBW weapons to Saddam's "intentions" . Most of what Saddam got came from US ("Spider's Web" by Alan Friedman).

[WarhammerTwo]

10. Woo-hoo!

Y'know being from one of the most corrupt states in the union (New Jersey), I have very little to be proud of. My senators, however, are the one thing I am very proud of. Go Frank!

[Q]

11. Now...

...if we can get the 'fence-sitters' to join the effort...this may be the start of something good.

There is no reason for this to die on the vine. The Bush government was CAUGHT red handed paying 'journalists' and pundits to promote their message and manufacture consent.

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. Hahaha!

Spanking the chimp and having fun doing it. My happy letter list is getting longer!

[Roland99]

13. Awww...come on. What's wrong w/state-run media??

[King Coal]

14. It's perfect.

If they oppose it, they have to admit they did it. A win-win for Dems.

[stevedeshazer]

15. *ding*

This is smart politics. Repubs are in a no-win here.

How many want to go on record as being opposed to the Stop Government Propaganda Act?

[King Coal]

17. Qui tam?

Qui tam is a legal principle found in the Federal False Claims Act that allows any person, including corporations, known as whistleblowers, to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government against anyone who uses government funds in a fraudulent way. Qui tam also allows the whistleblower who filed the suit to receive a portion of any funds that are recovered by the qui tam lawsuit.

Most anyone can file a qui tam lawsuit, including employees of the company or agency that is defrauding the government, former employees of the company or agency, competitors or subcontractors, state and local governments, federal employees, public interest groups, corporations, and private citizens.

http://www.quitamfyi.com/index.html

Bill O'reilly meet your relator.
:smoke:

[Why Syzygy]

22. Class Action Anyone?

"The President said that his cabinet agencies made a mistake when they paid commentators to promote his agenda," Kennedy said in a statement.

Cabinet Agencies? WTF are they?
Poor gwb. His whole tribe just keeps screwing up (on his behalf).

I bet he meant they made a mistake by getting CAUGHT.

[yellowcanine]

19. Didn't the Pubs pass something like this already when Clinton was

president? If so, all that's needed is an AG that will enforce the law. Heh.

[grumpy old fart]

21. Government run press is already here of course...

I assume many of you caught the incredible propaganda filled wiffle tossed to the Chimp yesterday at the press conference by a "journalist" (Jeff Gannon) from the front organization, Talon News.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200501260015

More and more we are going to have these faux journalists feeding set up lines to the Administration, brainwashing the sheeple into believing that the Chimp is actually responding to an independant media...dog and pony show to the max. Goebbels would be proud.