Let's Just Call April 15 "Miss Beazley Day"

How is it that the federal government pays for outside public relations and even propaganda campaigns, even though such activity is specifically prohibited by the Constitution and a 1913 law, unless specifically appropriated? This fascinating Congressional Research Report [PDF] from earlier this week explains. Basically, there is no oversight mechanism except for "fire-alarm" watchdogging from the Government Accountability Office, which only kicks into gear when a member of Congress complains, and which has consistently taken an extremely narrow interpretation of the restrictions. And, "At present, the federal government has little knowledge of the extent of agency expenditures on public communications. … Agencies' budgets do not lineitem list public relations expenditures."

The report also lists these new (to me) examples of taxpayer-financed guvmint BS:

The White House has reportedly expended public funds to create and maintain Barney.gov, a child-friendly website that celebrates the President's Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley. The site features photographs and videos of the dogs, along with their biographies and "answers" letters from children. […]

The Forest Service hired a public relations firm to produce a brochure which promoted increased logging in the Sierra Nevada forest. […]

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has reportedly drawn up a "strategic communications plan" that urges SSA employees to disseminate the message that "Social Security's long-term financing problems are serious and need to be addressed soon" through speeches, public events, and mass media, and by other means.

Here's that Barney.gov link, by the way. Probably best when viewed stoned.