Obama promises sweeping government reform

[MaineDem]

Source: AP/Boston Globe

CONCORD, N.H. --Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama says he will help clean up Washington on his first day in office with a government reform package that includes tougher restrictions on lobbying by former political appointees.


In a speech to be delivered Friday, the Illinois senator says he will ban political appointees in his administration from lobbying the executive branch for the remainder of his time in office. Those who join his administration will not be able to work on regulations or contracts directly related to their former employers for two years.

"When I am president, I will make it absolutely clear that working in an Obama administration is not about serving your former employer, your future employer or your bank account -- it's about serving your country, and that's what comes first," he said in remarks prepared for a speech at New Hampshire Community Technical College in Manchester.

...

"In our democracy, the price of access and influence should be nothing more than your voice and your vote," he said. "That should be enough for health care reform. That should be enough for a real energy policy."

Obama's plan also calls for ending the abuse of no-bid contracts, restoring objectivity to the executive branch and increasing public access to information. He acknowledged that such promises are common but argued that he has the experience and will to follow through.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/06/22/obama_promises_sweeping_government_reform/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News

[Nickster]

1. Here's a really wild idea, how about no one in the admin gets to work on deals that

help their former employers for their entire time in the admin? Plenty of time to cash in on your White House experience once you're a private citizen again. Keep the people's work ahead of corporate interest.

[redqueen]

2. just for his administration?

what about single-payer healthcare?

[SoxFan]

3. Obama Promises Sweeping Government Reform

Source: WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama offered a plan Friday that he said takes aim at a Washington culture that benefits the rich and powerful.

Obama said that if he is elected president, he will end what he called a revolving door between regulators and those who they are supposed to regulate.

"When you walk into my administration, you will not be able to work on regulations and contracts directly related to your former employer for two years, and when you leave, you will not be able to lobby the administration throughout the remainder of my term in office," he said.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/video/13552273/index.html

---

Link includes video of the speech.

[Kagemusha]

4. I found it interesting this story's getting international attention.

I saw a reference to it on The Guardian (UK) 's web site.

Edit: Whoa! Didn't notice the first time that Obama would ban people from lobbying his administration after serving in it, for the duration of Obama's term in office. That's the sort of thing I wanna hear!

[AndreaCG]

6. It's not a bad idea

But to be effective he needs them not to lobby Congress either.

I think the other Dems will come up with similar proposals if they haven't already (I bet Kucinich might have beat him to it!)

[ItNerd4life]

5. Oh man, now how will government run?

I'm liking what I'm hearing from him. I hope some of the other candidates start pushing these types of ideas.

[damntexdem]

7. Sweeping reform isn't enough after Dubya!

Better strip and rewax. Use that buffer liberally!

[LiberalFighter]

8. Is that code for "Republicans can kiss their ass good-bye"?

[youngdem]

9. This reminds me of when Dean said he would break up Big Media

They killed him with the fake Dean Scream days later.

Obama better be careful not to make too many enemies, no matter how much I want to kiss him on the mouth for saying this.

I do wish he would win though. He ain't perfect, but he and Edwards are the only real Democrats running and Edwards just isn't gonna be the guy this time.

Obama/Edwards, perhaps?

[dbt]

10. 'Scuze me while I hold my breath!

PeLOWsi and them were gonna clean up this gubmint, too...

:rofl:

[mediawatch]

16. my thoughts exactly

[SoxFan]

11. Obama pledges to drive out the old cronies

Source: Concord Monitor

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama pledged yesterday to put an end to the rampant cronyism and special interests that he said have taken the country away from the average American. Hurricane Katrina victims should not still be in trailers, he said, and war veterans shouldn't come home to squalor and neglect.

Under an Obama administration, government jobs would be put out to bid - not awarded to friends - and lobbyists would be barred from giving gifts to lawmakers, Obama said. Staff would be hired based on their qualifications, not their party affiliation, and prohibited from working on contracts or regulations related to their former employers.



Read more: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070623/REPOSITORY/706230310

[HereSince1628]

12. Can the Executive decree that lobbyists not give gifts to lawmakers?

I know Obama is a lawyer, and I'm not, but I'm not sure that things work that way.

[GeorgeGist]

13. As long as there are lobbyists ...

there will be cronies for lawmakers to represent.

[Dr.Phool]

14. Will he bring in a whole new set of cronies?

The whole damned government is mired in corruption. Republicans are just more efficient at it than Democrats.

[dkofos]

15. Not more efficient, they have just been in charge longer.

And I do think he will bring in a whole new group of cronies