Obama Pushes Lobbyists Off Federal Advisory Boards

[FriendlyFire]

Obama Pushes Lobbyists Off Federal Advisory Boards

As has been reported, the President has made a commitment to close the revolving door that has in the past allowed lobbyists and others to move to and from full-time federal government service. In furtherance of this commitment, the President issued Executive Order 13490, which bars anyone appointed by the President who has been a federally-registered lobbyist within the past two years from working on particular matters or in the specific areas in which they lobbied or from serving in agencies they had lobbied. The aspiration we are announcing today builds on this commitment. While the letter of the President's Executive Order on Ethics does not apply to federally-registered lobbyists appointed by agency or department heads, the spirit does and we have conveyed that to the agencies who are responsible for these appointments.

On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the move "may turn out to be the most far-reaching lobbying rule change so far from President Obama," resulting in "hundreds, if not thousands, of lobbyists" being ejected from federal advisory panels.

Administration officials remain sanguine, saying the criticism is overblown and arguing that top corporate officers are free to sit on advisory panels as long as they aren't lobbyists

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/1..._n_372070.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112602362.html

Two years dose seem rather weak.
it dosnt really go far enough and it took an executive order which can be overturned by the next incomming president rather then have congress vote it into law. Its a small step in the right direction.

Small tip of the hat.

[Cutlass]

As with many things, it's too timid. It should read that anyone who has been a lobbyist or employed by a lobbyist within the previous 5 years cannot work for the government in any capacity.

[Karalysia]

Originally Posted by Cutlass

As with many things, it's too timid. It should read that anyone who has been a lobbyist or employed by a lobbyist within the previous 5 years cannot work for the government in any capacity.

Do you want to cause massive unemployment in Washington D.C.?

[Cutlass]

Originally Posted by Karalysia

Do you want to cause massive unemployment in Washington D.C.?

They can leave and make room for others.

[amadeus]

Does this apply to all lobbyists, or just the ones the Obama administration doesn't like?

[SS-18 ICBM]

Huffington, eh?

[Smellincoffee]

Obama Pushes Lobbyists Off Federal Advisory Boards

He's making them walk the plank?

[Integral]

While the letter of the President's Executive Order on Ethics does not apply to federally-registered lobbyists appointed by agency or department heads, the spirit does and we have conveyed that to the agencies who are responsible for these appointments.

So ex-lobbyists are OK if they're appointed by department heads?

[Owen Glyndwr]

It's certainly a step in the right direction, but I'm hoping to see him go even further in the future (hopefully using the super majority of his to get it signed as legislation!)