[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              CABINET OFFICIALS LOBBYING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

  (Mr. ARCHER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, who exactly supports the Clinton health care 
plan? Why the Secretary of Education, of course--just ask his 
employees.
  I come to the House floor today to ask for an explanation of a letter 
signed by Secretary Richard Riley that was issued to all employees at 
the Department of Education. In that letter, the Secretary took time 
out of his busy schedule to explain the ``unfortunate confusion and 
misunderstanding about the President's health care proposal.'' The 
letter introduces a 23-page color brochure which provides a glowing 
summary of the President's plan for a Federal takeover of the United 
States health care system.
  I certainly believe that all citizens should be alerted to the impact 
of the President's plan. However, I am deeply concerned about the 
propriety of Federal workers being lobbied at work by their boss. More 
importantly, I am interested in knowing just who or what public or 
private organization paid for these brochures and what was the purpose 
of their distribution?

  This action is clearly an abuse of a cabinet position. Just because 
the White House seems to be the only organization in America that still 
backs the Clinton health plan doesn't legitimize the practice of 
Cabinet officials lobbying Federal employees on Government time.

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