Ways and Means issues subpoena for Kathleen Sebelius
The House Ways and Means Committee has subpoenaed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, demanding that she reveal details of how the agency is promoting the health reform law, according to the committee.
The election may have iced efforts to repeal the law on the whole, but House Republicans are indicating they’re full speed ahead on intense oversight of how the Obama administration is enacting the legislation.
Continue ReadingThe subpoena demands that Sebelius turn over documents about how taxpayer dollars are being used to promote the law through public relations, advertising and message testing. The committee is asking for all documents covering the period from January 2008 to now.
It comes from committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany (R-La.), who is facing a runoff election next month.
Camp and Boustany sent a letter to Sebelius on Oct. 24 threatening a subpoena if documents were not handed over by Oct. 31. They sent an initial request to Sebelius in June for the material.
“The lack of response leads me to believe that this administration is either unwilling to disclose why they are using taxpayer dollars to market their unpopular law or are unable to keep track of how those taxpayer dollars are being spent,” Camp said in a statement Wednesday. “Either way, the American people deserve to know where their hard-earned money is going. … After months of being unresponsive, I am left with no choice but to compel their cooperation.”
HHS has signed at least two contracts — one valued at $20 million — for public relations work on the law.
It’s the second subpoena Sebelius has faced from congressional Republicans in as many months. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed the agency to turn over documents to determine if funds from a Medicare Advantage demonstration program are being used improperly.
HHS has turned over more documents, but there’s been no word from committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) on whether the new documents satisfied his request.
Readers' Comments (104)
Fredrick3 Party: Republican
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Nov. 14, 2012 - 5:11 PM EST
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Mikey123 Party: NA
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Nov. 14, 2012 - 5:12 PM EST
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Dstegesaurus Party: NA
Reply #3
Nov. 14, 2012 - 5:15 PM EST
Mikey, the former governor of Kansas and current HHS secretary is not a "bimbo", but you sure are sexist...
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Read all 104 comments in our forumWhat a buch of Jerks all those congress are Pimps for all the Lobbyist in D.C.
We the people should demand that the media report just how much each congress person gets for pimping for the Lobbyist and just who the Lobbyist are working for . If fact why are the tax payers paying congress persons when they also get paid 2 times by lobbyist . 1. paid for pimping .2 get cut backs on the laws the past that makes the lobbyist money. Like the new light bulb . i
This is the same bimbo that broke The Hatch Law but who cares, nobody in the coward media does.
Great. The GOP is determined to waste the maximum amount of time and money continuing symbolic skirmishes over an issue they've already lost. It's the Wiley Coyote syndrome.
The Democrats won more votes in House races than the GOP did. If not for the intensive gerrymandering the Democrats would be in control of the House at the moment. That's not very meaningful in the short run, since a majority based on the existing districts is what determines control of the House. But on the trajectory the GOP is travelling, even with the gerrymandering, that advantage is going to erode away if the House Republicans continue to act like clowns.
There's an incorrect statement up there in your article. (that use of up there reminds me of the way Broadwell speaks, she uses "thing" for every "thing".
The right has not given up on defeating obamacare and you all know it. We have yet begun to "fight".
Actually phineas we will be holding Obama accountable as our President in the same manner as GW Bush was. THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!
It is about time these Republican's grow some brass! The old, hard core, GOP, leaders really let us down, AGAIN! They need to be replaced or put out to pasture once and for all.
And if she refuses to hand them over hold her in contempt of congress and (as ole plastic face pelosi put it) they will put her in the jail Beneath the congress.
Actually Phin, it is their job to make sure money isn't wasted or used improperly...in this case by HHS, notwithstanding the fact that a majority of Americans OPPOSE Obamacare. NOT symbolic and this issue is NOT lost. Dems barely squeak out an election and you think that justifies every extreme liberal policy you can come up with? We have a Constitution in this country still. If you don't want to follow it, then come up with your own and let's see how that flies.
Hey, the woman was the biggest defender of George Tiller, the baby killer. Was one of the biggest allies to the man who loved to abort full term babies. He had a real taste for it, made a ton of money off of it. One hand shakes the other. Understand what a creep this woman is. A heartless, gray haired witch who supported partial birth abortion - all the way.
Throw all their lieing asses in jail,America is being destroyed by these lieing jerks.
How is it that we fund Planned Parenthood through our tax dollars federally and PlannedParenthood was able to endorse President Obama by giving him money for his campaign? How is that legal? That is my tax dollars and I should have the right to say how it is spent.
Great, the democrats think they can continue their one party rule. Anyone who defends this woman needs to have their head examined. She is the poster child of the pro-partial birth abortion set, who's buddy was George Tiller. Birds of a feather flock together I always say - wait until her HHS is in charge of infirm seniors.
Isn't it amazing how much dirt gets out ... immediately AFTER the election.
Nice, let's waste more money on advertising. We aren't wasting enough money already.
Yeah, and how about all the others billions and billions "We the People" are forking over to these crooks!!! The House Republicans (many crooks too) desperately need to turn this ship around before it sinks... the lame brained populace has shown they are not responsible.
Yet, the media is still drunk off the fact they helped the worst _resident of all time get reelected, hey media, your cocktails are getting low, fill 'em up, no need to actually be journalists!
Obviously repeal isn't going to happen in the next two years, but that doesn't mean there's nothing the Republicans can do to slow things down and throw a wrench in the works. I cringed the other day when Boehner declared in essence that Obamacare is the law of the land and we have to accept it. When Bush 42 was re-elected, did the Dems all just give up and say let's go along with his agenda since he won the election? Of course not. The Dems fight over every square inch of the battlefield and use every tactic available to them. Remember all the procedural efforts and arm-twisting the Dems did while passing Obamacare? We need to come up with every way we can think of to stop it from being implemented. Anyone who says we are only one half of one third of the government or some similar defeatist statement needs to go right now.
These guys are working hard to get thrown out of Congress altogether. Elections have consequences and no matter how much you have been bribed by your cronies, you cannot stop Obamacare. That train left the station on Nov 6.
I wonder if we got a discount from the PR firms for commercials on Obamacare AND food stamps. Is there anything the government DOESN'T push??
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