nytimes.com - 12/15/2008
—
The spouses of some candidates for jobs in the Obama administration are lobbyists, a potential loophole in the pledge to purge special interests. >
spectator.org - 12/12/2008
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spectator.org —
Let's be fair: Barack Obama and Tom Daschle
will not attempt to immediately impose socialized health care...
on America. Instead, they'll just take us along the scenic route. With the appointment of former Senate Majority Leader Daschle to ...
(more)
Daschle's Long March
huffingtonpost.com - 12/15/2008
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huffingtonpost.com —
WASHINGTON -- Linda Hall Daschle is one of
the most important aviation lobbyists in town. Ms. Daschle...
is also the wife of Tom Daschle, whom President-elect Barack Obama has chosen to be the next secretary of health and human services. Tom Downey is the founder and chairman of a lobbying firm ...
(more)
Lobbyist Spouses Of Daschle, Browner Present Test For Obama
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Spousal Ties a Conflict of Interest?
The Page by Mark Halperin —
... President-elect Obama take a hard line against lobbyists, yet two are married to Obama appointees.
New York Times: Mr. Obama's selection of Mr. Daschle and Ms. Browner to high-level positions illustrates a potential loophole in his pledge of keeping special interests at a distance. ...
Spousal Ties a Conflict of Interest?
The Page by Mark Halperin —
... The president-elect has indicated he will take a hard line against lobbyists, yet two are married to Obama appointees. ...
Transition News 12/15
The Stump —
Illinois
voters might get to fill Obama's Senate seat.
What spouses'
ties to lobbying mean for members of Obama's administration--and why his
anti-lobbying effort will
fail.
Politico examines
the controversies surrounding Obama's EPA pick Lisa Jackson.
Tension between the transition and
NASA
continues.
Why Obama's New
Deal should be an international one.
Some scholars explain why Obama is
no
Lincoln.
Obama's transition approval
ratings are sky-high, even as the economy falters.
Former Defense official says Shinseki ...
The Great Postage Stamp Conflict of Interest
The Stump —
An amusing tidbit from today's Times story on Obama appointees whose spouses have potential conflicts of interest:
Several other spouses of people tapped for top Obama administration jobs have careers connected to government.
Susan E. Rice, the United Nations ambassador pick, is married to a producer of the ABC program “This Week With George Stephanopoulos.” Gregory B. Craig, the White House counsel designate, is married to a graphic designer who has worked on Postal Service stamps. And the wife of Timothy F. ...
More ideas for transparency and ethics
The Next Right —
Mark Tapscott notes my post on ethics and proposes some more ideas that would involve real pain for legislators and their staff:
First, apply the Freedom of Information Act to Congress. Most Americans resent that Congress passes laws it expects the rest of us to abide by but exempts itself. Ending the 42-year-old congressional FOIA exemption would be a major step in the right direction and one that would call the Democrats bluff on the transparency issue.
Second, require Members and their key personal and committee staff members (chiefs of staff, legislative directors, committee staff directors, legal counsels, ...
Obama’s transition problems
RedState: Conservative News and Community —
... a lobbyist, William Lynn, for the 3rd largest defense contractor to the position of Deputy Secretary of Defense, in violation of Obama’s own transition rules.
Obama appointed a lobbyist, William Corr, to Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, also in violation of Obama’s own transition rules.
Obama’s transition is being advised by an executive on telecom policy, in violation of Obama’s own transition rules.
Obama has appointed an energy and environment czar who is married to an energy lobbyist.
I ...
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