Government reform groups issued a statement today in support of President Obama's policies to restrict lobbyists' influence in Washington and to increase transparency.

"Above and beyond the specific steps President Obama has taken in the first hundred days, his actions represent a larger challenge to the way business is done in Washington," said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21. "That itself has been a very important step to challenging the influence culture of Washington."

The groups joining Democracy 21 were: Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, and U.S. PIRG.

Beyond praising Obama's revolving door policies and transparency initiatives, the statement stressed the need for reforming campaign finance laws. Wertheimer characterized campaign finance as the "800 pound guerilla" in the battle to reform the inordinate influence of money in Washington.

The full statement can be read here

                                                                                                               -- Eliza Krigman