President Barack Obama’s sweeping State of the Union call for more restrictions on “the outsized influence of lobbyists” is drawing a mixed response from both lobbyists and good-government groups.
Since taking office, Obama has targeted lobbyists with rules designed to limit their access to his administration, a populist goal that has won him widespread praise. One proposal in the Jan. 27 address to Congress would require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make with the executive or legislative branch on behalf of a client. The other would limit campaign contributions from lobbyists to candidates for federal office. The White House also wants lawmakers to toughen the Lobbying Disclosure Act by lowering the threshold at which lobbyists must register.
