In unveiling the plan for fixing the financial system, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner today made a point of mentioning that his agency will continue to keep lobbyists at arm's length, National Journal's Alexis Simendinger reports.

The government's actions will "build on what we've done," he said -- meaning they'll build on the framework created under the Bush administration. He also said the new steps and new commitments by Treasury will be "independent of lobbyists and politics." In a nod to the Obama administration's promise of transparency, Geithner directed the public to the administration's new website, financialstability.gov.

He went on to say how closely they are consulting with the banks and financial institutions. We assume that doesn't include their lobbyists.

On January 27, Treasury announced new rules on the lobbyists working for organizations receiving or interested in receiving money from the Troubled Assets Relief Program. The rules restrict contacts between officials and lobbyists in connection with applications for funds from the bailout program. The new restrictions are modeled on the limits imposed on political lobbying of Treasury Department officials on tax matters.

Here's Treasury's press release on the rules.

                                                                                                                     --Bara Vaida