Obama lobby rules could benefit nonprofits, analyst says (CNN)

[struggle4progress]

From Abbie Boudreau and Scott Zamost
CNN Special Investigations Unit

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- ... Chai Feldblum, a Georgetown University professor who teaches lobbyists-in-training, said nonprofit groups are likely to have a stronger voice under the restrictions that Obama's transition staff issued this week.

"Lobbyists for business will absolutely get meetings with staff for people on the Hill, just like they got meetings before, so their access will not be denied," Feldblum said. "Their positions will be heard, but now they won't be the only ones being heard."

The rules, which transition co-chairman John Podesta announced Tuesday, bar federal lobbyists from contributing to or raising money for the transition effort. Those who leave the transition team will be barred for a year from lobbying the incoming administration on matters related to their transition jobs, and current lobbyists who join the team are barred for 12 months from working in policy fields related to their lobbying work.

Podesta called the new policy "the strictest, the most far-reaching ethics rules of any transition team in history." They follow a pledge Obama made during his campaign, when he instituted similar rules for aides and vowed that lobbyists "will not drown out the voice of the American people" ...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/12/siu.lobbyists/

[Amonester]

1. Nonprofit groups: link to www.change.gov here...

http://www.change.gov

(if you're looking for ways to communicate)

[Triana]

2. GOOD! I hope Obama keeps to such strict rules regarding lobbyists throughout his administration. n/t