Bush says:
"All our Cabinet secretaries must realize that we will not be paying commentators to advance our agenda. Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet," Bush said at a news conference.
Bush's remarks came a day after syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher apologized to readers for not disclosing a $21,500 contract with the Health and Human Services Department to help create materials promoting the agency's $300 million initiative to encourage marriage.
:
Senate Democrats held their session to highlight their opposition to the Bush plan and what they say is the administration's improper use of a government agency.
Specifically:
- The agency's communications plan directs workers to spread this message: "In order for Social Security to be there for future generations, necessary reforms must take place."
- Talking points distributed internally reflect Bush's political messages about Social Security and the need for personal accounts. It includes Bush's principles for reform, including that "modernization must include individually controlled, voluntary personal retirement accounts to augment Social Security."
- Mailings to Americans detailing the benefits they can expect to receive also warn that "the Social Security system is facing serious financial problems, and action is needed soon to make sure that the system is sound."
- The agency's Web site and customer service telephone lines push the need to "modernize and reform" the system, saying the future shortfall is "massive and growing."
"We feel that this is a gross misuse and waste of government funds and government personnel," said Steve Kofahl, a claims representative from Seattle and also a union representative.
How, exactly, is this not exactly the sort of thing that Bush is decrying? The only difference I can see is that this is far, far worse. Not only are they using Social Security money to promote the destruction of Social Security, they are forcing government employees to go along with it. This is the most outrageous of all payolagate episodes. This is the stuff of ideological one-party states.
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