Conservative marriage researcher, columnist and three-time On Point guest Maggie Gallagher found herself in a whirlwind of controversy this week when it was disclosed that she was paid to do work for the federal government. The Gallagher controversy follows last month’s revelation that conservative commentator Armstrong Williams was paid more than $200,000 to push President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” initiative.

In 2002, Gallagher was paid more than $21,000 to draft a magazine article and several brochures for the Department of Health and Human Services. She was also paid by the Justice Department to write a report titled “Can Government Strengthen Marriage.”

Gallagher says the government was paying her for her expertise, and the money had no bearing on her columns or talk show appearances. She says her only mistake was not disclosing the payments. The National Society of Newspapers Columnists disagrees. Its president issued a statement today saying “You cannot serve two masters. Either you are an unflinchingly independent journalist, or you are a public-relations officer.”

Hear a conversation with Maggie Gallagher about these latest developments.

Guests:

Maggie Gallagher is president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy. She is also a syndicated columnist and co-author of “The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier, and Better Off Financially.”