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Excluded from dialogue on stimulus, lobbyists fire back

In the latest volley between K Street and President Obama, association leaders are urging the administration “not to continue down a slippery slope” by restricting access and dialogue between officials and lobbyists on the fate of funds in the economic stimulus package. The comments are in response to Obama’s March 20 memo with guidance on how stimulus funds should be distributed. The memo said that executive departments or agency officials shall not consider the view of a registered lobbyist. That exclusion, lobbyists say, violates their constitutional rights to petition the government. “This is about a First Amendment right to get in there and be able to make your… Read More