Lobbyists ready for a comeback under Romney
By: Anna Palmer
October 15, 2012
President Barack Obama’s gone further than any president to keep lobbyists out of the White House — even signing executive orders to do it.
But the mood on K Street is brightening.
Industry insiders believe that Mitt Romney will unshackle the revolving door and give lobbyists a shot at the government jobs their Democratic counterparts have been denied for the past four years, a dozen Republican lobbyists said in conversations with POLITICO.
"I've heard they are likely not to black ball anybody from any particular sector," said Republican lobbyist Sam Geduldig at Clark, Lytle & Geduldig. "I assume, everyone is welcome to apply. I'm sure they are interested in getting the best people possible."
Allowing lobbyists back into the White House could be a PR nightmare early on in a new administration, some Republicans fear. Romney would have to toss out Obama’s orders, which shook up how President George W. Bush did business and let Obama claim his agenda wouldn’t be hijacked by special interests.
Sources close to Romney’s campaign say there has been no official word from the campaign on what the rules about lobbyists in the administration will be. And Romney himself has said nothing definitive on the trail about the issue.
But there are clear signs that lobbyists could be back in the executive branch.
Some of the highest-level positions in a potential Romney administration are expected be filled by former lobbyists and Washington insiders. Health care consultant Mike Leavitt, who served as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency for Bush, is leading Romney’s transition effort. He’s considered a shoo-in for either White House chief of staff or Treasury Secretary. Campaign spokesman Kevin Madden, of JDAFrontline, is expected to get the job of White House spokesman.
Other senior campaign advisers are former lobbyists, as well, including Ron Kaufman, a former lobbyist at Dutko Worldwide, and Drew Maloney, who left Ogilvy Government Relations to lead Romney's congressional outreach. Romney's campaign has also relied heavily on K Streeters to organize high-dollar fundraisers, including David Tamasi of Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, Jack Gerard of the American Petroleum Institute, Wayne Berman and Mark Isakowitz of Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock.
A Romney spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment.
Romney’s transition team is beginning to draw up the qualifications for senior-level jobs in a potential Romney administration, putting an emphasis on corporate and industry experience — no surprise considering Romney’s own background as the former CEO of Bain Capital.
"There's no question this will be a CEO president who will greatly valuate the contribution of people in business versus academia," said Ivan Adler, a headhunter with McCormick Group. "There will be a 180 degree switch with a Romney administration. The welcome mat will be put out."...
For the full article, go to:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82415.html
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