Enlarge Photo <\/p>\n
A $1 billion fund created by President Obamas health care law, which Republicans have derided as a slush fund, is under investigation for suspicions of lobbying rule violations. <\/p>\n
The inspector general for the Health and Human Services Department says healthy living grants given from the fund appear to have been used to lobby for changes to state laws, a violation of federal guidelines. <\/p>\n
The money was distributed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for health initiatives aimed at curbing the consumption of sugary sodas to fight obesity, smoking cessation and encouraging physical activity. <\/p>\n
But some materials that the CDC passed along to grant recipients appear to authorize, or even encourage grantees to use grant funds for impermissible lobbying, HHS Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson wrote in an early alert sent to CDC Director Thomas Friedman. <\/p>\n
The CDCs grant application warns recipients that using federal money to contact elected officials or for grassroots lobbying is illegal. The inspector general, however, said the warning is vague and incomplete and appears to conflict with other CDC materials that appear to encourage lobbying. <\/p>\n
While its possible that federal money did not directly support state and local lobbying activities, Mr. Levinson said, the open acknowledgment of the lobbying in some of the grant recipients quarterly reports shows a lack of understanding about the lobbying prohibition. <\/p>\n
Sen. Susan M. Collins of Maine and Rep. Darrell E. Issa of California, the top Republicans on the Senate and House oversight committees, have raised several questions about the grants. <\/p>\n
While I strongly support the wellness and prevention mission of the CDC, Ms. Collins said last week, I also support the safeguards Congress has put in place on the use of federal funds to protect against the misuse of tax dollars. Every dollar spent on inappropriate or illegal activities is a dollar that didnt go toward saving lives and improving health. <\/p>\n
CDC officials are now reviewing several dozen charges of illegal lobbying activity that congressional aides have documented, according to Mr. Levinsons letter. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Continued here: <\/p>\n
Health care cash probed in lobbying<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Enlarge Photo A $1 billion fund created by President Obamas health care law, which Republicans have derided as a slush fund, is under investigation for suspicions of lobbying rule violations. The inspector general for the Health and Human Services Department says healthy living grants given from the fund appear to have been used to lobby for changes to state laws, a violation of federal guidelines. The money was distributed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for health initiatives aimed at curbing the consumption of sugary sodas to fight obesity, smoking cessation and encouraging physical activity Continue reading