Lobbyists Furiously Lobby White House to Preserve Lobbyist Power

[babylonsister]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/lobbyists-furiously-lobby-white-house-to-preserve-lobbyist-power.html

Lobbyists Furiously Lobby White House to Preserve Lobbyist Power


Lobbyists have been furiously lobbying the Obama White House to oppose restrictions on their ability to lobby.

The kafuffle began on September 23 when special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform Norm Eisen wrote that "the White House has informed executive agencies and departments that it is our aspiration that federally-registered lobbyists not be appointed to agency advisory boards and commissions."

How many Industry Trade Advisory Committees -- ITACs -- are there?

The Washington Post says the system of these committees is "so vast that federal officials don't have exact numbers for its size; the most recent estimates tally nearly 1,000 panels with total membership exceeding 60,000 people."

"These appointees to boards and commissions, which are made by agencies and not the President, advise the federal government on a variety of policy areas," Eisen wrote. "Keeping these advisory boards free of individuals who currently are registered federal lobbyists represents a dramatic change in the way business is done in Washington."

The White House wasn't kicking lobbyists off the ITACs. Rather, Eisen wrote, "there are many registered lobbyists who currently serve on these committees as a result of a prior appointment. When these appointments expire, it is our hope that agencies not reappoint anyone who is currently registered as a federal lobbyist at the time of their potential reappointment."

Needless to say, there was an uproar on K Street.

snip//

Also on November 9, a number of lobbyists currently on ITACs met with members of the White House staff. The White House, seemingly relishing this spat, posted the list of attendees.

"Just a quick post to report on a meeting today with a group of lobbyists and others who currently chair Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs)," Eisen wrote on his blog that same day. "The group had objected to the Administration's new policies barring the appointment (and reappointment) of federally registered lobbyists to agency boards and commissions…

"We explained to the ITAC chairs that this issue is not about the few corrupt lobbyists or specific abuses by the profession, but rather concerns the system as a whole. For too long, lobbyists and those who can afford their services have held disproportionate influence over national policy making… we decided that while lobbyists have a right to petition the government, it would best serve the interests of a fairer and more representative democracy if we limited their ability to do so from special positions of privileged access within the government. The result will be a Washington that is more reflective of all of America."

[Clio the Leo]

1. Kick. NT

[HopeOverFear]

2. K & R

[mopinko]

3. paints quite the mental image. np

[Froward69]

4. This is still under the radar

of most of the M$M. the rethuglicans and "conservatives" really do not know how to respond... if at all. as this has been their problem with Democratic administrations for years.

...the typical RW blogger Hasn't a clue either.