In a step in the right direction Obama Tightens Ethics, Lobbying Rules, Freezes Pay of Staff.
President Barack Obama said he’s freezing the pay of senior White House staff and imposing new restrictions on interactions between administration officials and lobbyists.
Obama also said he would issue an order that makes it easier for the public to get government documents.
“We are here as public servants, and public service is a privilege,” Obama said, addressing his White House staff and Cabinet on his first full day in office. “It’s not about advancing yourself or your corporate clients.”
The president said that when top White House aides leave government, they are barred from lobbying “for as long as I am president, and there will be a ban on gifts by lobbyists to anyone serving in the administration.”
Regarding the pay freeze, Obama said he is acting because “families are tightening their belts and so should Washington.”
This is a small but significant step, especially on ethics and disclosure. Much more needs to be done as outlined in Open Letter To Congress On Sharing The Pain
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
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