The House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee issued a subpoena to HHS yesterday, demanding more information on public relations contracts for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said HHS has not responded to his questions about the contracts and how taxpayer money is being put to use for public relations campaigns, advertisements, polling and other services to publicize the PPACA.
Charles Boustany, MD, chairman of the subcommittee on oversight, initially sent a letter for documents by June 1. Republican committee members said that if HHS did not provide more information by Oct. 31, it would consider issuing a subpoena.
"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," Rep. Camp said in a statement. This subpoena is the first he has issued as committee chairman.
The committee says HHS has spent taxpayer dollars to drive Internet traffic to pro-PPACA websites and to produce television commercials touting the reform law. Earlier in the fall, there were also reports of California officials paying a PR firm $900,000 to tap major network TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Modern Family" for plotlines featuring the PPACA.
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Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said HHS has not responded to his questions about the contracts and how taxpayer money is being put to use for public relations campaigns, advertisements, polling and other services to publicize the PPACA.
Charles Boustany, MD, chairman of the subcommittee on oversight, initially sent a letter for documents by June 1. Republican committee members said that if HHS did not provide more information by Oct. 31, it would consider issuing a subpoena.
"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," Rep. Camp said in a statement. This subpoena is the first he has issued as committee chairman.
The committee says HHS has spent taxpayer dollars to drive Internet traffic to pro-PPACA websites and to produce television commercials touting the reform law. Earlier in the fall, there were also reports of California officials paying a PR firm $900,000 to tap major network TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Modern Family" for plotlines featuring the PPACA.
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