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From: CREW- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
On the surface the Obama Administration's ban on oral communication between registered lobbyists and government officials seeking Recovery Act funds looks like it moves the ball forward on the administration's goals of transparency and accountability. Dig a little deeper and we see that it is little more than window dressing.
In light of President Obama's meeting with credit card executives on April 23 - and the administration's restrictive new rule on registered lobbyists seeking stimulus funds - CREW analyzed those industry executives' 2008 election cycle donations to illustrate the influence they wield in government.
The 14 credit card company executives met with President Obama "to discuss the impact of the current crisis on consumers." CREW's study found that the attendees - only one of whom is a registered lobbyist - personally donated roughly $50,000 to federal candidates, while employees of their companies contributed $14.5 million, and their companies' political action committees contributed $8.6 million. In addition, during the first quarter of 2009 alone, these companies spent almost $15.5 million on lobbying fees in an effort to influence legislators.
Last month, CREW, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American League of Lobbyists (ALL) urged the White House to rewrite the new rule on registered lobbyists, because the rule will not result in the transparency the administration seeks. The rule restricts the ability of only registered lobbyists to influence decisions related to stimulus funds, but the influence game is played by more than lobbyists - it is played by CEOs and other top executives.
A stronger option, endorsed by CREW, the ACLU and ALL, would be to require disclosure of all communications - by non-lobbyists and lobbyists alike. This would more effectively target the backroom deals about which Americans are legitimately concerned. Only full transparency will allow the public to decide who is unduly influencing our country's policy and root-out corruption.
Learn more: Read CREW's examination of the 2008 election cycle political giving of the executives.
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