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[b][center][big]Trump Admin to Bar Lobbyists, Prevent Officials From Joining K Street for 5 Years
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AP

BY: Natalie Johnson
November 17, 2016 12:43 pm

Donald Trump’s transition team announced Wednesday that registered state and federal lobbyists will be barred from serving in the Trump administration—a preliminary step by the president-elect to “drain the swamp” in Washington.

Trump will also require administration officials to agree to terms that would ban them from working as a lobbyist for five years after leaving their post in the government, CNN reported.

[b]“It goes back to Mr. Trump’s goal of making sure that people aren’t using the government to enrich themselves and using their service in government to do that,” [/b]Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Anyone vetted for a position with the administration will be required to sign a contract stating they are not a registered lobbyist. Those who are must submit a termination of lobbying form.

The policy is an expansion of current ethics rules that prevents lawmakers and administration officials from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving the government.

Trump acknowledged on Sunday that his transition team included a number of D.C. insiders, but he pledged to “clean up the system” to make the so-called revolving door from government to K Street more difficult to pass through.
Northwest · M
Putting a 5-year moratorium on lobbying, following public service, or a length of time, equal to the length of time they served, whichever is shorter (to make things fair), is something that should be passed as a federal law, and states, should be passing the same law as well.

This is something I can stand behind.

However, Trump seems to be saying: well, this will apply, after after my presidency, and in the meanwhile, the bulk (not just some), of my transition team, is current, or recent, lobbyists. That's very convenient.

About this: “It goes back to Mr. Trump’s goal of making sure that people aren’t using the government to enrich themselves and using their service in government to do that,”

He's already announced, that he's not going to place his assets in a blind trust. Instead, he's going to have his kids handle it. That may be fine, but his kids, have been on multiple calls/visits, by foreign dignitaries/politicians, who are currently doing business with Trump's companies.

During his first call, post elections, with the Turkish President, he was accompanied by his Turkish business partner. A guy who is at odds with Erdogan, due to Erdogan's Islamist tendencies. Trump dropped his business partner's into the conversation, and sang his business partner's praises, telling Erdogan that the guy loves him. His daughter was on the call. Is this behavior compatible with the pledges?

Most recent, he met with the Philippines Envoy to the US. Again, his business partner (planning Trump buildings in the Philippines). How's this going to work out?

It's illegal for everyone else, to have conflicts of interest. The entire "lock her up" part of the campaign, was about alleged (never proved) conflicts of interest between Clinton's foundation, and he official work, and this is just for a Foundation. How does the Trump international hotel/casino/gold courses company compare?

He says that there is no conflict of interest, because he won't do it. Evidence points to the contrary.

 
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