Another Shocker: Famously Lobbyist-Hostile Administration Cozies Up to Lobbyists

Again, please don't accuse me of being overly cynical, but sometimes I have the nagging doubt that Barack Obama is not being perfectly straight with us.

By Roxana Tiron

In a significant change, the Obama administration will now allow lobbyists to meet and have telephonic discussions with government officials regarding economic recovery projects.

The lifting of the ban comes after K Street has cried foul for months and has challenged the White House on its restrictions.

In March, President Obama announced that government officials would not be allowed to consider the views of lobbyists regarding specific stimulus projects unless the requests are put in writing. The materials also had to be posted on an agency’s website within three business days of receipt. Lobbyists have said that the policy was one more example of the administration's disdain for their industry.

Now, the just-revised rules will allow government personnel to accept meetings and calls from federally registered lobbyists on the implementation of stimulus projects. The head of the Office of Management and Budget, Peter Orszag, issued a new guidance late Friday regarding the administration's communications with registered lobbyists about economic recovery funds.

Lobbyists can make their cases -- and agency officials can listen to them -- at "widely attended gatherings." Government officials have to ask whether the person they are talking to at such events is a federally registered lobbyist speaking on behalf of a client.

Supposedly officials will post the meat of lobbyist requests on the internet for all to see.

Right.

In related news, the Obama Administration that it is relaxing its "don't screw the middle class on taxes" rules. Henceforth, officials will be allowed to just put the tip in, just for like two seconds, just to see how it feels. "Primarily."

Thanks to momma.

Oh: Chris Dodd meanwhile continues his new crusade against lobbyists, primarily by taking so much of their money it makes them squeal.

He's really showing them what's what. They're all like, "Chris Dodd, please take our five grand," and he's all like, "Screw you, corrupt lobbyist scum! I'll take thirty grand, and you'll like it!"

So he's like totally messing with their heads 'n stuff.

posted by Ace at 04:35 PM

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