US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been subpoenaed by House Republicans who are investigating alleged improper use of PR during the Affordable Care Act campaign.
The HHS has signed at least two PR contracts amounting to more than $20m to promote the healthcare law according to congressional newspaper The Hill.
Barak Obama’s federal healthcare law has been sanctioned, however, the House of Republicans have issued the subpoena to Sebelius for information about her efforts to promote the act.
The House Ways and Means Committee, led by chairman Dave Camp, has demanded Sebelius hands over documents outlining how US taxpayer money was used to promote the law through public relations, advertising and message testing.
“This Administration has repeatedly stonewalled Congress and refused to allow a public review of how these tax dollars were spent,” he said.
“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. Either way, the American people deserve to know where their hard-earned money is going.”