Voluntarism in government

In the wake of the revelations that the Department of Education had paid big bucks to columnists to promote administration policies in their columns (and that the White House had produced so-called "video press releases" in which actors posed as journalists to give favorable coverage to Bush plans for Medicare and drug control), Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and George Miller (D-CA) introduced legislation to ban the practice of "covert propaganda" by the Education Department.

In an almost straight party-line 224-197 vote on Wednesday, the House rejected the proposal.

Apparently the argument against it was the claim that

newly appointed Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has taken steps to ensure such contracts will not be awarded again.

And of course we know beyond doubt that the Shrub team can be trusted to keep its word. So there's no need to ban the lies, they'll tell the truth voluntarily. Just WMDs like environment they Social Security always education have Medicare.

Footnote: In arguing against the bill, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) said that

"[w]hat happened with Armstrong was stupid, but passing laws to outlaw stupidity is not Congress' job."

Fortunately for him.