Reform Groups Applaud White House's Stance On Lobbyist Influence

Monday, January 11, 2010 at 3:55PM
Staff in Frontpage 3, News/Commentary, PIRG, White House, obama, report card

The White House touted the release of a report card compiled by a number of reform groups praising the Obama administration for steps taken to reduce lobbyists’ influence.

“The president has worked constantly to ensure that his administration is the most accessible and accountable in history,” said Norman Eisen, the Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, during a conference call with reporters Monday.

The report card, which was a joint-effort by the organizations U.S. PIRG, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and Democracy 21, gives Obama a solid A on policies intended to bar former lobbyists from joining the staff and preventing former aides from lobbying the White House after leaving.

Obama also receives three Bs in areas relating to lobbyists serving on advisory boards and issuing gifts.

“The new rules and policies have begun the difficult process of changing the way business is done in Washington,” the report card states.

Article originally appeared on Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media (http://www.talkradionews.com/).