Your Money, Backatcha

USA Today reports on a study commissioned by congressional Democrats showing that "The Bush administration has more than doubled its spending on outside contracts with public relations firms during the past four years." Details:

The administration spent at least $88 million in fiscal 2004 on contracts with major public relations firms, the analysis found, compared with $37 million in 2001, Bush's first year in office. In all, the administration spent $250 million on public relations contracts during its first term, compared with $128 million spent for President Clinton between 1997 and 2000. The analysis did not examine what the Clinton administration spent during its first term.

The top-spending agency during the past four years, at $94 million, was the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The biggest federal public relations contractor in that period was Ketchum, with $97 million.

Yes, that Ketchum. Cynical Skeptical minds want to know -- did Medicare get the cash in the run-up to a certain piece of entitlement-expanding legislation?

Comments

[Thomas Paine's Goiter]

*raises hand*

Um, why, exactly, are government programs advertising again?

This sounds like the PA DOT. The money set aside for advertising for the DOT has doubled in three years to $20 million. What in the ever-loving hell are these programs advertising?

$94 million? I want my .72 back.

[Thomas Paine's Goiter]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6875358/?GT1=6065

That guy needs medicare.

[TJIT]

Matt,

Thanks for the information.

It would be fun to see what various government departments are spending on lobbyist to influence the outcome of legislation in areas they have interest in. For example in Texas the counties are lobbying against citizen efforts to put a cap on the increase in property tax valuation.

[jessica]

Here in Knoxville, the mayor successfully defeated a referendum to stop a wheel tax increase by widely publicizing that a property tax increase that was sure to follow if the referendum passed.

[Gary Gunnels]

Isn't Bush supposed to be the President that "ignores" polling, public relations campaigns, etc.? He just shoots "straight from the hip," right? Or is that merely a well-crafted myth? 🙂

[B.P.]

No wonder the Bush Administration receives so much positive press.

Does Armstrong Williams count as a p.r. firm?

[Gilbert Martin]

"No wonder the Bush Administration receives so much positive press."

Tell that to CBS.

[great]

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