Senate unanimously backs ban on government propaganda

Editor's note: On April 14, the Senate voted 98-0 to approve an amendment to a supplemental spending bill introduced by Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.V.) that would prevent any federal agency from using taxpayer dollars to produce or distribute prepackaged news stories which do not clearly identify that the so-called news was created by a federal agency or funded with taxpayer dollars.

The amendment states:

"Unless otherwise authorized by existing law, none of the funds provided in this act or any other act may be used by a federal agency to produce any prepackaged news story unless the story includes a clear notification within the text or audio of the prepackaged news story that the prepackaged news story was prepared or funded by that federal agency."

Byrd's remarks are below:

Mr. President, in every year since 1951, Congress has included a provision in the general government appropriations act which states the following: "No part of any appropriation contained in this or any other Act shall be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States not heretofore authorized by Congress." [Section 624 of P.L. 108-447]

Yet, despite the law, the Congress and the American people continue to hear about propaganda efforts by Executive Branch agencies. On more than one occasion, this Administration has provided tax dollars to well-known conservative talk show hosts to promote its agenda. One was paid a hefty fee to promote the No Child Left Behind Act. Another talk show host was paid to promote the Administration's welfare and family policies.

If those examples aren't bad enough, in an effort to blur the line between independent media and Administration propaganda, some agencies have produced prepackaged news stories designed to be indistinguishable from news stories produced by free market news outlets.

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in an opinion dated February 17, 2005, the Administration has violated the prohibition on "publicity and propaganda." In a memo sent to Executive Branch agencies, the GAO stated, "During the past year, we found that several prepackaged news stories produced and distributed by certain government agencies violated this provision." Very simply, according to the GAO, the Administration broke the law.

The GAO specifically cited the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Department of Health and Human Services for violating the anti-propaganda law. But these are not the only agencies pretending to be a credible news outlet.

On March 13, 2005, The New York Times wrote about the Administration's approach in an article entitled, "Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News." Mr. President, I ask that the entire article be included in the Record.

The Times article spotlighted three news segments that each looked like any other 90-second segment on the local news. But these were not news. The federal government produced all three.

The Times told of a news segment — produced by the State Department — featuring a jubilant Iraqi American telling a news crew in Kansas City, "Thank you, Bush. Thank you, U.S.A."

The Department of Homeland Security apparently produced a so-called news report on the creation of the Transportation Security Administration. The reporter called the establishment of TSA, "one of the most remarkable campaigns in aviation history." But what the viewers did not know was that the "reporter" was actually a public relations professional working under a false name for the Transportation Security Administration.

A third segment, broadcast in January, was based on a news report produced by the Department of Agriculture. The Agriculture Department apparently employs two full-time people to act as reporters. They travel the country and create their own so-called news, distributing their work via satellite and mail, always pushing the White House line. In the January report, these USDA employees claiming to be independent journalists called President Bush, "the best envoy in the world." I am not here to argue whether George W. Bush is America's best envoy to the world. But I would rather leave that discussion to independent analysts, not Administration employees or on-the-payroll journalists pushing the White House line.

Yes, the Administration should explain its ideas and positions to the American people. No one argues that fact. Educating the public about issues affecting their lives is an essential role of government. But the Administration should not engage in a blatant manipulation of the news media. Leave the work of manipulation to the Rush Limbaughs of the world. Keep the job of government focused on the people. Manufacturing propaganda is a blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars.

The Administration has disputed GAO's views. The Administration takes the view that it is okay to mask the source as long as the ads are "purely informational." The White House Office of Management and Budget, with the support of the Justice Department, went so far as to issue a memorandum to agency heads, dated March 11, 2005, specifically contradicting the conclusions of the Government Accountability Office. The Justice Department concluded that the GAO's "conclusion fails to recognize the distinction between covert propaganda and purely informational Video News Reports, which do not constitute propaganda within the common meaning of the term and therefore are not subject to the appropriations restriction."

Mr. President, if paying national columnists and talk show hosts, faking news segments, hiring actors to pretend to be reporters "do not constitute propaganda," what does? It is time for the Bush Administration to back off.

We trust the media to provide us with independent sources of information, not biased news stories produced by the Administration at the taxpayers' expense.

It is time for the White House to be upfront with the American people. No propaganda. No manipulation of the press. The Administration should tell the people its position on issues, but should do so honorably and without such deliberate manipulation of the free press.

Propaganda efforts such as these are not the stuff for a Republic such as ours. The American people must rely on the independence of the news media. The Constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press is not for sale. The country must know that reporters are presenting facts honestly, fairly, and without bias. Democracy should not be built on deception.

Just yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission, on a unanimous vote of 4-0, approved a Public Notice that directs Television broadcasters to disclose to viewers the origin of video news releases produced by the government or corporations when the material runs on the public airwave. The Commission "acknowledged the critical role that broadcast licensees and cable operators play in providing information to the audiences that they serve. This information is an important component of a well-functioning democracy. Along with this role comes the responsibility that licensees and operators make the sponsorship announcements required by the forgoing rules and obtain the information from all pertinent individuals necessary for them to do so." The Public Notice goes on to stress that the Commission may impose sanctions, including fines and imprisonment for failure to comply with the ruling.

So, Mr. President, the FCC, by a unanimous vote, made clear to the broadcasters what their rules are. Now, Congress should make clear what the rules are for Federal agencies.

So, Mr. President, thee FCC, by a unanimous vote, made clear to the broadcasters what their rules are. Now, Congress should make clear what the rules are for Federal agencies.

My amendment prevents any agency from using taxpayer dollars to produce or distribute prepackaged news stories intended to be viewed, heard, or read which do not clearly identify that the so-called news was created by a Federal agency or funded with taxpayer dollars. This is common sense.

I urge Senators to back the law that we have passed each year since 1951. "No part of any appropriation contained in this or any other Act shall be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States not heretofore authorized by Congress." My amendment simply makes it clear that Congress means what it says.

I urge adoption of the amendment.