Administration Promotes Lobbyist ‘Brain Drain’

• By Eric Wang
• Special to Roll Call
• Nov. 30, 2009, Midnight

Within hours of taking office, the Obama administration indiscriminately banished lobbyists from executive branch service, and soon thereafter prohibited them from even speaking with officials on important matters. But the White House soon realized it had cut off its own nose to spite its face, when it had to exempt registered lobbyists appointed to key posts. Instead of dropping the knife, the administration has now also expelled lobbyists from federal advisory committees, thereby lopping off its own ears. At this rate, even the most comprehensive health care overhaul cannot heal these wounds.