Friday, October 24, 2008
"A gross abuse of public trust.."
A report released by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on October 16th found that the White House had "used the political affairs office to orchestrate an aggressive strategy to use taxpayer-funded trips to help elect Republican candidates" during the 2006 Congressional elections. The actions of the White House may have breached the Hatch Act, which prohibits government involvement with taxpayer dollars in political affairs.
The Office of Political Affairs coordinated the efforts, and while it has been used in the past to support political parties, the Committee called the level of involvement "unprecedented" and a "gross abuse of public trust". A total of 99 Republican candidates were supported by the actions.
Political Affairs requested that its officials attend events of and support key members of the 2006-2007 Congressional race. Administration officials attended a total of 425 events, including parties, fundraising dinners, speeches, and appearances with Republican candidates--an average of more than an event each day of the election season. A third of the events were paid for with tax dollars.
The Office of Political Affairs coordinated the efforts, and while it has been used in the past to support political parties, the Committee called the level of involvement "unprecedented" and a "gross abuse of public trust". A total of 99 Republican candidates were supported by the actions.
Political Affairs requested that its officials attend events of and support key members of the 2006-2007 Congressional race. Administration officials attended a total of 425 events, including parties, fundraising dinners, speeches, and appearances with Republican candidates--an average of more than an event each day of the election season. A third of the events were paid for with tax dollars.
