Obama to air interest-group talks ( i.e., No secret closed door energy task force meetings)

[Robbien]

Source: Washington Times

President-elect Barack Obama's transition team will publicize any official meetings that staffers have with outside interest groups and will post online any policy documents the groups present during those meetings, according to rules put in place Friday.

"Every day, we meet with organizations who present ideas for the transition and the administration, both orally and in writing. We want to ensure that we give the American people a seat at the table and that we receive the benefit of their feedback," transition chief John Podesta wrote in a memo to his staff, obtained by The Washington Times.

The rules apply to "official meetings," which Mr. Podesta defined as those in which at least three of the participants are from outside organizations. Any written document those in attendance present to the transition team also will be posted on the Web site www.Change .gov.

Mr. Podesta said the transition staff should consider the rules "a floor, not a ceiling," and consider posting documents even from meetings that don't meet the standard of at least three outside participants.



Read more: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/06/obama-to-open-interest-group-talks/

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It would be interesting if the same openness rule applied to AFTER-transition official staffer meetings.

[glowing]

1. Why not? Wouldn't posting the special interests and lobbyists opinions

make it easier for Obama to fight against their insider track... If we are watching and seeing what they have up their sleaves, then its easier for millions of people to oppose and give favor to opposition when you know what is happening. It covers Obama's ass to go Left.

[FlaGranny]

2. Isn't the "AFTER" part included in the following?

"That's what I will do in bringing all parties together, not negotiating behind closed doors but bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are," Mr. Obama said in one of their debates.

"If the drug companies or a member of Congress who's carrying water for the drug companies wants to argue that we should not negotiate for the cheapest available price on drugs, then I want them to make that argument in front of the American people," he said.

[ohio2007]

6. "The rules apply to "official meetings," " ( ie, The CYA loophole )

most talks covering issues like that will be off the record,unnofficial

[JDPriestly]

8. Preliminary talks could be off the record, but as soon as three

lobbyists appear at once, the meetings will be on the record. This is a great idea. This will give each of us the opportunity to see what is going on with regard to issues in which we are interested. I'm very happy about this.

[Triana]

3. THAT'S how you run a Democracy. I hope they REALLY do this and consistently. n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. This is great!

I'm especially interested in what he does about health care, since I'm employed in that industry. As the computer person for our office, it is especially intriguing--exactly what records will be online--and how will privacy be protected?

[acmavm]

5. Whereas I know that Obama isn't going to govern liberally, I do fully

believe that he will govern openly (as much as is possible).

[RC]

9. If Obama governs openly, that alone should drive him to the Left.

[Gman]

7. I want to know if Obama will take the next step

and release everything from the Cheney energy task force.

[JDPriestly]

10. This is where it will become interesting. If the energy industry

wants to come in and argue there is no global warning and we have plenty of oil, they will have to discuss their views right there in open and the government will invite the public including scientists or those with other information to respond. Let the public see both sides and measure the worth of each. Great!!!

[Gman]

11. Not just that, but more importantly

that they colluded to get gas prices over $4/gallon by 2008. It's not coincidental that oil and gas prices started rising tremendously after those meetings. There is no doubt in my mind the criminal collusion took place in those meetings.

There is no doubt in my mind that we would have continued with obscenely high energy prices had McCain won. The current price crash is more a function of the falsely created price bubble and the end of unlimited cheap credit. But there would have been a return to even higher prices had McCain won.

[silverweb]

12. A promise kept.

Already, the ship of state is beginning its turn into the new direction of open government that Obama promised, and he's not even in office yet.

Thank you, Mr. President Elect!

[antimatter98]

13. What about the recent weekender between Rubin and Paulson

where the Citigroup bailout was put together?

What about the meetings and phone calls Paulson has with his
buddies on WS and in banking to make more free cash available?

I see a lot of dishonesty in this 'meeting transparency' declaration.

I'm sure Cheney knows how to have 'unofficial meetings' and I'm sure
Rubin and Paulson do too; that is how business is done.

I hate being 'fogged' like this: Oh, THAT meeting wasn't official because
it was at the resort, or in Malaysia, or wherever, so we don't have to
report on it.

[gmudem]

15. So Obama is like Cheney in your mind?

*Slaps hand against forehead*

[BillE]

16. Why would that make Obama dishonest?

As far as I know Obama hasn't been sworn in yet, and has no authority over what Paulson or any other official does. I applaud his willingness for more transparency in what he is doing now and hopefully when he begins his presidency. A far cry from this current administration.

[Robbien]

17. Well, Paulson is not an Obama staffer

so Obama's new rules don't apply to him.

But, yes, it will be interesting to see if they honor this new policy when Paulson is no longer at the Fed and the responsibility is Obama's.

[polichick]

14. This sounds like...

CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!

[FrenchieCat]

18. NO shit!

This news should be all over the boards, and have as many threads running as those about Caroline Kennedy and the Cardboard Scandal......but of course, there is only this one thread.....unless I start another. :(


on Edit, I did start such a thread! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7958475

[yurbud]

19. why THREE or more not ONE or more? How many people would Abramoff bring with him to meetings?