The Obama Administration has escalated its war on lobbyists with a dictum that removes registered lobbyists from the hundreds of advisory boards that assist departments in developing policy and rules.
On the face of it, the decision makes sense. Why put people who work, at considerable personal gain, to influence the decision makers on advisory boards that are created to assist those who make the decisions? How can you possible advise in a way that harms your clients?
Sounds like Catch 22…or 23.
The members of those advisory boards argue that they have the expertise to provide the decision makers with important information to guide policy without conflict of interest.
Well, yes and no.
Based on my Capitol Hill experience on both sides, as a Congressional staffer and a registered lobbyist, I can appreciate the value of experts on the panels…and the obvious possibility of working for one’s self interests.
The Obama campaign against lobbyists began with a decision not to hire any registered lobbyists to government jobs.
That was dumb, and they sort of ignored it in hiring former Clinton Administration people left and right.
Now they say that lobbyists serving on advisory boards are tainted and untrustworthy and should get the hell out of advising.
They might regret that.
In fact, the legislative branch benefits from the input of advocates on both sides of issues. (Though Hill denizens will deny it.)
But sometimes the lobbyists go too far. Just recently it was revealed that a downtown lobbying shop provided Members of Congress floor statements on health care reform. The hitch was they gave the Members the identical speech…and the duped Members inserted the dupes in the Congressional Record.
It didn’t take long for someone to notice.
The first rule of lobbying is don't embarrass a member...Oops.
And so it goes on Capitol Hill.
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