Report: Administration Web Site May Have Broken Laws

A nonpartisan congressional research group is backing up a Republican senator's claim that the U.S Health and Human Services Department (HHS) could potentially be inappropriately culling support for President Obama's health care agenda.

The department may have violated laws relating to federal spending on propaganda or lobbying campaigns by hosting its "State Your Support" health care Web site, according to the Congressional Research Service. The CRS gave its legal opinion on the matter at the behest of Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa).

The "State Your Support" page provides a form letter to Mr. Obama for citizens to submit, after adding their name and personal information.

"By signing this statement we affirm our commitment to work with you and our Congressional leaders to enact legislation this year which provides affordable, high quality coverage for all Americans," the letter says.

In a letter (PDF) he wrote last month to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Grassley asked the secretary to answer a number of questions about the online letter.

"The use of the official HHS.GOV website for activities that seem to be nothing more than government propaganda raises many serious questions," he wrote.

Sebelius wrote back (PDF) that the Web site is "entirely legal and proper" and aims "to provide the American public with an opportunity to participate in the dialogue."

In its analysis (PDF), however, the CRS wrote, "It would appear to be a legitimate inquiry as to whether the department is expending federal funds for such 'informational' or 'educational' purposes, or rather expending funds to expressly urge the public to engage in a letter writing campaign involving an electronic submission of a form letter to a government official (sometimes referred to as 'astroturf' lobbying, that is, an artificially stimulated letter writing campaigns) urging the adoption of a particular public policy in legislation this year."

A statement on Grassley's Web site claims that "past statements by White House officials make it clear that initiatives like 'State Your Support' are part of a strategy" to promote the president's agenda.