Bush used US agencies to help bankroll GOP campaigns

  Ever since President Bush was first inaugurated, the White House has appointed a number of very partisan individuals to lead what should be relatively non-partisan federal agencies. In one case, within just the first three years of his presidency, President Bush appointed over 100 officials that were once lobbyists, spokesmen or attorneys for the very industries they now oversee.  Until now, Congress played a minimal role in investigating the alleged merge between bureaucrats and partisan influences.

Now there is new information, according to McClatchy, that reveals the Administration took it one step further -- and maybe too far:

Top Commerce and Treasury Departments officials appeared withRepublican candidates and doled out millions in federal money inbattleground congressional districts and states after receiving WhiteHouse political briefings

detailing GOP election strategy.

Political appointees in the Treasury Department received at least 10political briefings from July 2001 to August 2006, officials familiarwith the meetings said. Their counterparts at the Commerce Departmentreceived at least four briefings — all in the election years of 2002,2004 and 2006.

TheHouse Oversight Committee is investigating whether the White House'spolitical briefings to at least 15 agencies, including to the JusticeDepartment, the General Services Administration and the StateDepartment, violated a ban on the use of government resources forcampaign activities.

As the article goes on to add, it is not illegal for cabinet officials in all departments to attend political meetings.  However, giving money to Republican candidates is against the law:

Under the Hatch Act, Cabinet members are permitted to attend politicalbriefings and appear with members of Congress. But Cabinet members andother political appointees aren't permitted to spend taxpayer moneywith the aim of benefiting candidates.

Okay, let's take little closer look at the Hatch Act.  The US Office of the Special Counsel web site clearly explains some of the political activities that are illegal:

These federal and D.C. employees may not-

• use official authority or influence to interfere with an election
• solicit or discourage political activity of anyone with business before their agency
• solicit or receive political contributions (may be done in certain limited situations by    federal labor or other employee organizations)
• be candidates for public office in partisan elections
• engage in political activity while:   
  • on duty
  • in a government office
  • wearing an official uniform
  • using a government vehicle
   
• wear partisan political buttons on duty

Looks like we may have a violation.  Look for the House Oversight Committee, led by Henry Waxman, to talk more about this issue in the next month.