Lobbyists pushed off advisory panels

[cal04]

White House initiative to limit influence could affect thousands
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/26/AR2009112602362.html?hpid=topnews

Hundreds, if not thousands, of lobbyists are likely to be ejected from federal advisory panels as part of a little-noticed initiative by the Obama administration to curb K Street's influence in Washington, according to White House officials and lobbying experts.

The new policy -- issued with little fanfare this fall by the White House ethics counsel -- may turn out to be the most far-reaching lobbying rule change so far from President Obama, who also has sought to restrict the ability of lobbyists to get jobs in his administration and to negotiate over stimulus contracts.

The initiative is aimed at a system of advisory committees 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.

Under the policy, which is being phased in over the coming months, none of the more than 13,000 lobbyists in Washington would be able to hold seats on the committees, which advise agencies on trade rules, troop levels, environmental regulations, consumer protections and thousands of other government policies.

[rwheeler31]

1. Thank you

[democracy1st]

2. K & R

[Clio the Leo]

3. See, they need more fanfare sometimes.....

..... wonder why the lack of fanfare?

[RepublicanElephant]

7. really! you can hear a pin drop. nt

[Hekate]

9. Good point. I wonder about that myself. nt

[Moochy]

13. Yeah sing it from the mountain tops

This kind of policy change is pretty inside baseball so I bet the WH Communications team assume Joe Sixpack and Mary Housecoat don't need to know or care.

But certainly it seems like something many opposed to corruption would support.

Gobama!

[Raineyb]

4. Excellent!

Lobbyists have no business being on the advisory panels in the first place. Really, was there any reason to expect them to suggest anything that would put their industry at a disadvantage?

[uponit7771]

5. PONY!!!!! KNR

[Hekate]

8. Yes! You nailed it: this IS a pony!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Cha]

6. Yeah, good on the

White House!

[HughMoran]

10. One of the biggest stories of the year for DUers

I can just feel the excitement in the air as all the Obama supporters kick and rec this thread.

Oh, wait a minute... :yoiks:

[chill_wind]

14. We do have 3 current running threads on the GP

right now. Consolidated, we must have about 100 recs already. (Probably more before I'm done typing. Due to vision problems, I'm a verrry slow and inaccurate typist)

I agree with you HM-- this is very big and very important. We rail at "the system" of lobbying and campaign finance that ensures the influence and corruption of our political system. We have to start somewhere-- and this is a huge historic start. It not be a sole magic bullet, but I commend President Obama all the way on this move. ALL THE WAY.

[Whisp]

11. this is one grand wonderful step in the right direction

I am very pleased to hear this for it will have dramatic effect in every area.

wonder what the fucking pissers and moaners have to say.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. There are ways to be a lobbyist without being an official lobbyist.

That being said, it's hard to twist this into being anything but a good thing.

[chill_wind]

15. Kicked and rec'd.