Lobbyists Quitting

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/11/02/lobbyists_quitting.html

November 02, 2009

Lobbyists Quitting


A record number of lobbyists in Washington, D.C. have left the business this year, according to a new study released today.

In the months after President Obama issued an executive order creating new restrictions on former lobbyists, about 1,400 of them -- or 8% of the industry -- left during the second quarter of 2009. Typically, only a few hundred lobbyists leave the business every quarter.

[Better Today]

1. So fewer are spending more, this doesn't actually make me feel any better.

I know I read somewhere, last week I think, that there has already been more lobbyist money thrown around in DC this year than there has been in any full year to date.

[HopeOverFear]

3. that's because they're scared

they know Obama's after them, so they're doing all they can to stay alive. If you expected the lobbyists to just lay down and take obama's change without fighting back, then you don't know how lobbyists work very well. Theirs is a culture that Obama tends to chip away at gradually.

[PretzelWarrior]

5. I doubt it.

[Better Today]

6. From HuffingtonPost, YTD sets a record. Here's the DU link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6900199

[ProSense]

8. That's in part because AHIP spent nearly $400 million trying to derail health reform

The health sector is the year's top lobbying spender, pouring $396 million to lobbying federal lawmakers on health care reform since January -- an increase of six percent compared to the same period last year.

link

[depakid]

2. That's a nice trend- but...

Wait and see where they go.

America's about to be deluged with corporate money over the airwaves and in political campaigns masquerading as "free speech."

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. You got that right.

I expect they'll end up on some obscure county committee in Florida. Thar's where the money is.

[earth mom]

7. They made their millions-time to retire to an island somewhere.

:puke:

[quantass]

9. Like a Leech once they get their Fill they fall off...until next time. nt

[cutlassmama]

10. They all need to leave and so do the "paid off" Congress people.

Then maybe the country won't be so corrupt and skewed towards the upper 2%

[dave29]

11. to go do what?

Someone please keep an eye on them

[Teaser]

12. obama is hitler

soon he will be killing gypsies by the truckload.

[Cha]

13. Amazing..a good move like this

and some here act like it's a bad thing. I guess once one gets that whining bug..there's no shaking it loose.

[firedupdem]

14. Yup! Nothing is a step in the right direction with some posters...nothing. n/t

[Cha]

15. It's pathetic..they

made sure they lost their own credibility.

[zeos3]

16. This may just be more shenanigans.

From the link within the link:

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/11/lobbyists-terminating-their-fe.html

"This occurred shortly after President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13490, which created new restrictions on former lobbyists appointed to the executive branch."

"OMB Watch's Lee Mason, the organization's Director of Nonprofit Speech Rights, commented on the timing of the acceleration of terminations and the president's policies on lobbyists.

“While we can’t draw a direct link between the president’s executive order and the increased pace of terminations during the second quarter of 2009, we can say that they came at a most controversial time,” Mason said."


"Another troubling issue highlighted by the organizations is that the thousands of lobbyists who appear to have left their line of work may not have actually done so. At the federal level, many people working in the lobbying industry are not registered lobbyists, instead adopting titles such as "senior advisor" or other executive monikers, thereby avoiding federal disclosure requirements under the Lobbying Disclosure Act."


Here is the executive order:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1719.pdf

"‘‘2. Revolving Door Ban—All Appointees Entering Government. I will not
for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in
any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially
related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations
and contracts.
‘‘3. Revolving Door Ban—Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered
lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition
to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of
2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the
2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter
falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied
within the 2 years before the date of my appointment."

[ProgressOnTheMove]

17. I think that really confirms where he stands on lobbyists the rest will be ..

focused on congress. He's allowed health care reform to be congress' creation so he doesn't expend too much political capital. He brought industry to the table first in this instance but it was on his terms. Pres. Obama only pledged how lobbyists would be dealt with in the executive office, so it's a case of leading by example. President Obama clearly believes in separate branches of government it's now the congress' move to address lobbyists too, although it will probably take a further progressive swing.

[uponit7771]

18. Rec, I pray the trend continues....good show for the Obama admin