DASCH'ING THROUGH A LOOPHOLE
Obama Exploits Loophole In Own Lobbyist Restrictions To Tap A Lobbying Firm's "Consultant" As Cabinet Secretary
______________________________________________________________________
Throughout The Campaign, Obama Pledged Not To Have Lobbyists Play A Role In His White House And Promised No Appointees Can Work On Regulations And Contracts Related To Their Employment During The Prior Two Years:
Obama: "[Lobbyists] Will Not Run My White House, And They Will Not Drown Out The Voices Of The American People When I'm President." "I won't take money from PACs, won't take money from federal registered lobbyists. They have not funded my campaign, they will not run my White House, and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I'm president." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Ault Park Pavilion, Cincinnati, OH, 10/9/08)
Obama:
"[Lobbyists] Won't Find A Job In My White House." "One year from now, we have the chance to tell all those corporate lobbyists that the days of them setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more to take on lobbyists than any other candidate in this race - and I've won. I don't take a dime of their money, and when I am President, they won't find a job in my White House."(Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Spartanburg, SC, 11/3/07)
"In A Detailed List Of Campaign Promises, Mr. Obama Pledged That 'No Political Appointees In An Obama Administration Will Be Permitted To Work On Regulations Or Contracts Directly And Substantially Related To Their Prior Employer For Two Years.'" (David D. Kirkpatrick, "Obama's Pick Of Daschle May Test Conflict-Of-Interest Pledge," The New York Times, 11/20/08)
But Obama's Rules Only Apply To Federally Registered Lobbyists, Creating A Loophole Which Allows Individuals Involved In Lobbying But Not Federally Registered To Join His Administration:
"[T]he Rules Apply To Lobbyists Who Must Register With The Federal Government; Many People Who Work For Lobbying Firms Or In Other Areas Of The Influence Business In Washington Do Not Have To Register, Because They Do Not Personally Lobby Federal Officials On Specific Issues." (Helene Cooper and Jeff Zeleny, "Obama's Transition Team Restricts Lobbyists' Role," The New York Times, 11/11/08)
The Loophole Allowed Obama To Reportedly Tap Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) To Serve As Secretary Of Health And Human Services:
Daschle "Accepted An Offer To Be Secretary Of Health And Human Services" And "Will Lead The New Administration's Effort To Revamp The U.S. Health-Care System." "Obama has a number of people affiliated with lobbying firms on his transition team, and yesterday, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle accepted an offer to be Secretary of Health And Human Services. Daschle, who will lead the new administration's effort to revamp the U.S. health-care system, works for Alston & Bird LLP." (Jonathan D. Salant and Kristin Jensen, "Lobbyist-Bashing By Obama Doesn't Dim Industry's Boom Forecast," Bloomberg, 11/20/08)
Daschle Has Worked As A "Consultant" For Washington, D.C. Lobbying Firm Alston & Bird's Health Care Lobbying Activities, Which Earned $3.5 Million This Year:
Daschle, A "Consultant" For Alston & Bird. "Obama kept $2,300 donated by Alston's Tom Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader. Daschle, located in Washington, is neither a lawyer nor a lobbyist. He is a consultant." (Dan Morain, "An Asterisk To Obama's Policy On Donations," Los Angeles Times, 4/22/07)
Daschle "Provides Strategic Advice To The Firm's Clients About How To Influence Government Policy Or Actions" On Alston & Bird's Health Care Legislative And Policy Team. "Although not a registered lobbyist, Mr. Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat who was party leader in the Senate, provides strategic advice to the firm's clients about how to influence government policy or actions. The firm's Web site declares, 'Our health care legislative and policy team has the significant advantage of including two former U.S. Senate majority leaders -- Senators Bob Dole and Tom Daschle -- both resident in our Washington office and champions of many health care issues in their Senate Finance Committee and leadership roles.'" (David D. Kirkpatrick, "Obama's Pick Of Daschle May Test Conflict-Of-Interest Pledge," The New York Times, 11/20 /08)
"[T]he Firm Represents Dozens Of Such Concerns Including Pharmaceutical Companies, Health Care Providers, And Trade Groups For Nurses And Nursing Homes." (David D. Kirkpatrick, "Obama's Pick Of Daschle May Test Conflict-Of-Interest Pledge," The New York Times, 11/20/08)
"As Examples Of The Firm's Achievements The Web Site Lists Matters Involving Medicare And Medicaid Reimbursements, Approvals Of Federally Regulated Drugs And Medical Products, Fraud Investigations, Medical Waste Disposal, Privacy And Other Compliance Issues." (David D. Kirkpatrick, "Obama's Pick Of Daschle May Test Conflict-Of-Interest Pledge," The New York Times, 11/20/08)
The Firm Earned $3.5 Million This Year From Its Lobbying Activity From Health Care Clients. "Daschle has been able to serve as an Obama campaign adviser because he wasn't registered as a lobbyist, though his firm earned $3.5 million this year lobbying for the health industry, including companies such as Woonsocket, Rhode Island-Based CVS/Caremark Corp. and Birmingham, Alabama-Based HealthSouth Corp." (Jonathan D. Salant and Kristin Jensen, "Lobbyist-Bashing By Obama Doesn't Dim Industry's Boom Forecast," Bloomberg, 11/20/08)
"The Health Industry Accounted For 60 Percent Of The Firm's Lobbying Revenue During The First Nine Months Of 2008." (Jonathan D. Salant and Kristin Jensen, "Lobbyist-Bashing By Obama Doesn't Dim Industry's Boom Forecast," Bloomberg, 11/20/08)
No comments:
Post a Comment