The Obama Administration's Approach to Lobbyists – A One-Year Review - Live Webcast

When:  Thursday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: 2040 S St., NW, Washington, DC 20009 and live on the web
Who:  OMB Watch, Obama at One Year Webcast Series

The Obama Administration's Approach to Lobbyists – A One-Year Review

Panelists: Rich Gold, Holland & Knight; Craig Holman, Public Citizen; Melanie Sloan, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington; Dave Wenhold, American League of Lobbyists

President Barack Obama has made lobbying and ethics reform a touchstone of his administration, and he has issued some of the most stringent restrictions ever seen on employing former lobbyists in executive branch agencies and the White House. Some have cheered these and other restrictions on lobbyists, saying it's high time the executive branch got serious about clamping down on special interest influence. Others, however, allege that the restrictions are poorly targeted, detrimental to public interest advocacy, and ineffective at getting to the heart of the matter: the corrupting influence of money in policymaking.

In this panel discussion, panelists will explore questions such as whether the Obama administration has thus far been successful in reducing the influence of lobbyists in Washington; if the focus on lobbyists is the right way to root out corruption; and what it means to reduce the influence of special interests on policymaking.

The panel discussion will run for 75 minutes, including time for questions from the in-person and online audiences.

Click to RSVP for the lobbying and ethics reform panel discussion.