Grants Flow To Bush Allies On Social Issues By Thomas B. Edsall, Washington Post Staff Writer
Under the auspices of its religion-based initiatives and other federal programs, the administration has funneled at least $157 million in grants to organizations run by political and ideological allies, according to federal grant documents and interviews. …
Among other new beneficiaries of federal funding during the Bush years are groups run by Christian conservatives, including those in the African American and Hispanic communities. Many of the leaders have been active Republicans and influential supporters of Bush’s presidential campaigns. …
“If what you are asking is, has George Bush as president of the United States established priorities in spending for his administration? The answer is yes,” said Wade F. Horn, who as assistant secretary for children and families at HHS oversees much of the spending going to conservative groups. “That is a prerogative that presidents have.” …
“These are just slush funds for conservative interest groups,” countered Bill Smith, vice president of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, one of the most outspoken critics of abstinence-only sex-education programs. “These organizations would not be in existence if not for the federal dollars coming through.” …
Most, but not all, of the money going to conservative groups has come from two programs that did not exist before Bush took office in 2001. …
Hundreds of struggling antiabortion and pregnancy crisis centers have received federal grants that often doubled or tripled their annual budgets, allowing them to branch out and hire staff, especially for abstinence education. …
The shift under Bush in part grows out of the administration’s Faith and Community Based Initiative. …
In a Dec. 12, 2002, executive order, Bush addressed one of the major concerns of religious groups considering applying for public money. Bush declared that religious groups receiving federal grants would not be required to comply with certain civil rights statutes, and could discriminate by hiring employees of specific religious faiths.
Skepticism about the distribution of money under the religion-based initiatives abounds in both parties. …
Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Tex.) was more outspoken. “I believe ultimately this will be seen as one of the largest patronage programs in American history,” he said. …
In addition to liberals, there are conservative critics of taxpayer funding of groups on the right.