January 29, 2009, the White House:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and sections 3301 and 7301 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Ethics Pledge. Every appointee in every executive agency appointed on or after January 20, 2009, shall sign, and upon signing shall be contractually committed to, the following pledge upon becoming an appointee:
“As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United States Government in a position invested with the public trust, I commit myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on me and are enforceable under law:
“1.Lobbyist Gift Ban. I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.
“2.Revolving Door Ban — All Appointees Entering Government. I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
“3.Revolving Door Ban — Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a)participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b)participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls; or
(c)seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment.
February 19, 2009, USA Today: Top White House aides on urban affairs named; one has lobbying background
Derek Douglas will be special assistant to the president for Urban Affairs. He’s currently Washington counsel to Gov. David Paterson of New York and director of the governor’s office in D.C.
Douglas was a registered lobbyist from 2005 to 2007, bringing him right under the exception, along with David Hayes, deputy secretary of Interior (and registered lobbyist until end of 2006). However, there are five other lobbyists:
• William Lynn, deputy secretary of Defense (and registered lobbyist for Raytheon from 2003 to mid-2008)
• Bill Corr, deputy secretary of HHS (and registered lobbyist as recently as September 2008)
• Mark Patterson, chief of staff of Treasury Department (and registered lobbyist as recently as last year)
• Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture (and registered lobbyist until March 2008)
• Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs (and registered lobbyist as recently as last year)
“Participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment,” you ask?
(h/t The Baron)
Doesn’t Vilsack get a pass because he falls under the ADA provisions? Ineptness being such a hindrance to a full and happy life.