1 post tagged “recovery act”

The President has taken bold steps to enhance transparency in government, end lobbying abuses, and ensure that the government’s spending decisions are based on merit.  As we’ve mentioned in a prior post, we continue to track the implementation of the President’s unprecedented transparency rules for lobbying contacts under the Recovery Act.  Yesterday we had two meetings about the rules at which lobbyists were present.  First, we met with representatives of groups from the reform community, including those generally supportive of the policy.  A wide array of opinions was aired, with some indicating that they want the policy to stay as is, and others making a variety of suggestions for changes to make the policy even tougher.  Later in the day, we met with representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who oppose the rules.  We heard their concerns and engaged in discussion about their particular objections.  We continue to believe that the rules are sound as a matter of law and policy, but consistent with the President’s instructions, we are using this 60-day implementation period to cultivate, and listen to, a wide range of views.  Present at the reform group meeting were:

 

Nicole Austin Hillary

Director and Counsel, Washington Office

The Brennan Center for Justice

Meredith McGehee

Policy Director

Campaign Legal Center

 

Tara Malloy

Associate Legal Counsel

Campaign Legal Center

Sarah Dufendach

Vice President for Legislative Affairs

Common Cause

Fred Wertheimer

President

Democracy 21

Scott Amey

General Counsel

Project on Government Oversight

Craig Holman

Legislative Representative

Public Citizen

John Wonderlich

Policy Director

Sunlight Foundation

 

Lisa Rosenberg

Government Affairs Consultant

Sunlight Foundation

 

Daniel Schuman

Policy Counsel

Sunlight Foundation

Lisa Gilbert

Democracy Advocate

U.S. PIRG

Lee Mason

Director of Nonprofit Speech Rights

OMB Watch

 

Sheila Krumholz

Executive Director

Center for Responsive Politics

 

Lloyd Leonard

Director of Advocacy

League of Women Voters

 

Norm Ornstein

Resident Scholar

American Enterprise Institute

 

Present at the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce were:

 

Steven Law

Chief Legal Officer

 

Judith K. Richmond

Associate General Counsel

 

Amar Sarwal

Staff Attorney

 

In addition to Norm Eisen, White House attendees included Preeta Bansal of OMB, Mike Mongan of the Office of the Vice President, and members of their staff.