Lobbyists for public interest groups are feeling increasingly frustrated that President Obama's broad ethics rules are preventing them from getting jobs in his administration.
So they're fighting back. Larry Ottinger, president of the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest and Stephen Rickard, Washington director of the Open Society Institute, have formed a loose coalition to push the White House to amend its ethics rules to delineate between lobbyists who are public interest advocates and lobbyists who pursue private monetary gain.
Under Obama's ethics guidelines, executive branch officials may hire a lobbyist, but that person cannot work in an area of policy for which they lobbied on for two years. That rule has been waived for three former lobbyists that now have jobs in the administration, but for no one else.
Ottinger and Rickard think the administration should consider several options for changing the policy. Amend the rule so it doesn't apply to public interest lobbyists; or issue a statement saying the rules don't apply to public interest lobbyists; or expand the number of waivers being offered to public interest lobbyists. The suggestions will be made in a letter being sent to the White House. Other organizations signing onto the letter are Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, OMB Watch, and the Project on Government Oversight.
Obama's executive order is "causing serious, unintended harm to nonprofit organizations who want and need to participate in our democracy," the letter is expected to say.
Public interest lobbyists are defined as those working for 501 (c) 3 and 501 (c) 4 organizations (advocacy and educational groups), but not unions or 501 (c) 6 groups (Usually trade associations). See our definitions of these groups on the right hand side of the blog under "Lobbying and Campaign Finance 101."
Readers, we'd be interested in your thoughts on this topic, should public interest lobbyists be exempt from the administration rules? Email me.
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Responded on April 15, 2009 12:06 PM
Matt Saperstone
We appreciate your interest in public-interest lobbying, because it is more important now than ever in helping families, communities and our nation face the tremendous challenges here and abroad. The issue raised by the Executive Order's unintended impact on public-interest lobbying is not so much about "jobs in the Administration," as it is about effective public policy and a responsive, participatory democracy. Recently, we have seen a genuine increase in interest in public service, and that is a fundamental need of any functioning democracy. Moreover, from the beginning of our nation, nonprofits have served as the best vehicles for broad, civic participation. Unfortunately, nonprofits and philanthropy already are skittish about nonprofit advocacy, and this has resulted in the voice of ordinary Americans and the public interest too often being drowned out. Particularly today, we need the expertise and input of our nonprofits and their constituents in shaping and implementing public policy within and outside of government. The ...
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We appreciate your interest in public-interest lobbying, because it is more important now than ever in helping families, communities and our nation face the tremendous challenges here and abroad. The issue raised by the Executive Order's unintended impact on public-interest lobbying is not so much about "jobs in the Administration," as it is about effective public policy and a responsive, participatory democracy.
Recently, we have seen a genuine increase in interest in public service, and that is a fundamental need of any functioning democracy. Moreover, from the beginning of our nation, nonprofits have served as the best vehicles for broad, civic participation. Unfortunately, nonprofits and philanthropy already are skittish about nonprofit advocacy, and this has resulted in the voice of ordinary Americans and the public interest too often being drowned out. Particularly today, we need the expertise and input of our nonprofits and their constituents in shaping and implementing public policy within and outside of government.
The President, through this Executive Order and other political reform efforts such as public financing of elections, has properly targeted the corrupting influence of money in politics as a systemic problem. To be clear, the problem is "money in politics" not "politics" or "democracy." We need a more inclusive, responsive and accountable democracy. For these reasons, among others, dramatically increased public-interest lobbying is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
A wide range of consumer, international human rights, environmental, health and other nonprofit organizations have come together to support the President's historic Executive Order. Together, we seek to advance its fundamental purposes by encouraging public service and lobbying for charitable and public purposes.
Larry Ottinger, President
Matt Saperstone, Manager
Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
Matt Saperstone
Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
1612 K Street, NW Suite 505
(202) 387-5072
matt@clpi.org
www.clpi.org
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Responded on April 14, 2009 11:22 AM
Chris Jones
Yes, I think the ban needs to be somewhat flexible.
It’s easy to demonize lobbyist, — but hard to govern with just academics and senior campaign staffers.
There is something to be said for ‘inside the beltway’ knowledge of the legislative process, the players, the mechanics of DC.
In a about 12 months, current Obama senior staffers will start to get a little weary, and new blood will be necessary to keep the Administration’s ship going full steam ahead.
Make the exception for ‘public interest’ lobbyists on a case by case basis.
Why deny the Administration the most talented in the business?
As an executive recruiter, the Administration can be awash in resumes but finding and hiring the best for the job will always be a challenge...
- Chris
--
Chris Jones
Managing Partner
CapitolWorks, Inc.
http://www.capitolworks.com
Bio: http://www.capitolworks.com/consultants.html
p: 202.785.2020
f: 202.785.1057
Responded on April 10, 2009 10:35 AM
Sean Parnell
The Obama administration should simply do what past administrations have done – hire lobbyists (and others) if their past work demonstrates a commitment to the administration’s agenda, and not hire them if their past work is inconsistent with the principles, perspectives, and priorities the administration intends to advance.
Instead, because Obama campaigned on the odd notion that lobbyists were somehow emblematic of “corruption” (and McCain was just as bad if not worse on this point), he now finds he must at least make an effort to govern in a manner consistent with his rhetoric, and those who supported him (including presumably many “public interest” lobbyists) must bear the consequences.
The rules shouldn’t exist in the first place, but it’s too late now, I suppose.
Sean Parnell
President
Center for Competitive Politics
124 S. West Street
Suite 201
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 894-6800 phone
(703) 894-6811 fax