President-elect Donald Trump’s big campaign promise to go into Washington, D.C. and “drain the swamp” of lobbyists, fat cats, and backroom dealers is in full swing — and it has establishment insiders turned COMPLETELY around.
Trump’s ethics plan would ban all executive-branch officials from lobbying for five years after leaving their government jobs — one of several policies aimed at curbing the influence of lobbyists. His campaign released his plan about three weeks before Election Day, and “drain the swamp” quickly became a favorite rallying cry and social media hashtag.
Lobbyists, many of whom are massed along the K Street corridor downtown just blocks from the White House, hate the plan and promise that it will backfire on him. The incoming Republican president is racing to hire some 4,000 executive-branch employees, and his ethics plan is also causing some job-seekers to look elsewhere because it limits how they can line their pockets when they decide to leave the administration.
Trump doesn’t seem phased.
Very organized process taking place as I decide on Cabinet and many other positions. I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
However, Trump’s ethics plan has lobbyists in D.C. fuming.
“This will have a chilling effect on his hiring, no doubt,” said Paul Miller, who leads the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics. “Most people who agree to government service want to go back into the private sector.”
But to those who have long advocated for breaking the “Potomac fever” that befalls those who come to Washington and never leave, Trump’s ban is worth the risk of losing some potential administration employees.
“Too many people go into government service as a way to punch their ticket and come out and make millions of dollars. That’s both a concern and a reality,” said Meredith McGehee, an executive at the government reform group Issue One. “Is there a cost to someone who goes into government service? The answer is yes. Are there lots of other things that person can do? Absolutely. Do policy. Go back home.”
She praised Trump’s pledge. Yet the devil is in the details — and the follow-through, said McGehee, who has worked on transparency and disclosure issues for three decades.
Trump’s plan makes bold assertions, some more doable than others.
He can enforce his executive-branch lobbying ban with the stroke of his pen, but measures involving Congress are trickier. Trump says he will ask Congress to institute a five-year lobbying ban for members and staff, which would take the approval of senators and representatives, who might be squeamish about tamping down their own future employment options.
Trump also wants to “expand the definition of lobbyist so we close all the loopholes that former government officials use by labeling themselves consultants and advisers when we all know they are lobbyists.”
That’s reasonable, McGehee said, but difficult. Increasingly, those employed by the influence industry call themselves “government relations strategists.” In fact, the number of registered lobbyists in Washington has dropped to fewer than 10,000 from 15,000 a decade ago. These “lobbyists” haven’t gone anywhere, McGehee said; they’re just calling themselves something else.
Miller and other lobbying advocates also agree registration should be more expansive.
Yet the 2011 legislation to do just that hasn’t moved forward. That could be a heavy lift for Trump.
It’s also unclear how many of the 4,000 or so people Trump is about to hire would be subject to his ban. His proposal says “all executive-branch officials,” but he may be referring only to Cabinet members and high-level White House officials.
Trump’s original transition team was packed with lobbyists and interest advocates, and that group is charged with helping to find, vet and hire for the Trump administration.
But once he caught wind, Trump put Vice President-elect Mike Pence in charge of transition, and he is changing some of the people who are involved.
Trump said he has no choice but to rely on lobbyists as he forms his government — but he argued he would try to change the dynamic over time.
“Everybody that works for government, they then leave government and they become a lobbyist, essentially. I mean, the whole place is one big lobbyist,” Trump said in a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday. “We’re going to phase that out. You have to phase it out.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article
The media is still showing it’s extreme bias. False news reports about Trump’s transition being chaotic are on the airwaves. This morning, WBZ Radio News’ extremely biased anchor, Joe Mathieu had a former Bush administration member saying that Trump doesn’t know what he is doing. Mathieu interjected rudely that Trump “doesn’t care”. They are like spoiled children who lost a game.
It was also the same way on other television news stations this morning and last night. Trump was actually surprised when he one and probably didn’t think too much into who he was going to pick for cabinet positions. Most people already know who is going to win the election and they start the “winning” candidate starts the vetting process early before the election ends. I’m sure Hillary did.
It seems like CNN has a hit squad on Trump everyday since he won.
correction – “when he won”. I probably should have proofread before I posted.
from the people he is considering for cabinet position ..it looks like he is filling the swamp instead of draining it
I think that before going to the conclusion we need give Mr Trump time,
I agree with you.
I am with you too!
You fumigate a swamp, keep whats left and then fill it. Harry Reid is on the way out which is a good start.
You mean sorry dingy Harry Reid and while we are at send Pocohontas to the landfill.What A waste of space.
Please do not insult a sweet american Indian maiden.
Gee, are you swimming with the bottom feeders????? Gee him a CHANCE…. We voted for hope
what do you expect from a never-Trump person?
So You Guys are more worried that he might put you out of work I have seen it happen. The Insurance broker’s that handle the huge companies place the risk they want insured and a broker does it makes a healthy commission pays no losses and just is ready for the next piece of business. Kinda of like your job, The change in the Brokerage business happened in A lot of clients We handled the General Dynamic’s business for 25 yrs averaged 7.5 million to 11 million in commission a yr I did it a one of a ten person team that each had our specialties. My Father was the broker of record and started me out on going to every division and meet the person we would have contact with and insured what they asked us. My Father a civil engineer and me with a BS in Chemical Engineering and a Bs in Economics with 3 minors also. What business fell into my lap was insuring 90 Satellite Launches a normal launch say at 13% when we started it was 23% for one offs we came up with a multi Launch policy say 300 million in value that needed to be insured so that would be 300 million times 13% so 39 million in premium with a 5% commission so 1.95 million and we booked 90 launches over 7 yrs 40 were classified military Launches that they only wanted the Launch Vehicle insured 40 million . So when we place this deals first 25% it was the biggest deal in Lloyd’s history 9 billion dollars I averaged 116,000 miles a yr in flight! But after we were half way thru GD started selling off their divisions and fired us even though we had a contract with them and their answer to us was we have a staff of 100 attorney’s so even if you sue us we will just out spend you and you will end up with nothing which was half true after five trs it was sent to arbitration where they did pay out a good some but no where near what they owed us, had to sign a confidential contract where we had to not mention the Amount we got. So SHT just Happens and you no longer are going to make that monopoly money! So get over it and then we can get back to try and save this country. It’s like Climate change is not because off pollution it’s because every they are guessing we have an Ice age were know were in an elliptical orbit that has caused the massive droughts in California and Texas the Arctic winds haven’t go as south as they should which has caused the droughts. I hope the 17,000 yrs are getting closer so we can get an ICE age because off the change in orbit. then we will start to have a normal weather when the orbit is round! I have read this by at least 12 of the best minds in how the earth act’s! So Look it up your self, why than has Obama Pushed it so hard is with his elite friends they will start offering a new commodity on Chicago’s exchange clean air so instead of being fined by the EPA for using a bigger carbon foot print then you were allowed . So instead of being fined they just buy more air I wonder what they had to invest to own clean air! What a scam!
My God I think I just fee in love with you! You got to the POINT and with TRUTH.
Oh please. The same scum will be crowding around him, we’ll see whether the swamp gets drained, or gets even deeper. We are a plutocracy, not a democracy, and there are limits to how much a president can do. I am all for draining the swamp however, and wish him luck
I thought Mrs. Pelosi was going to drain the swamp years ago. She obviously became the swamp rather than draining it. I think it’s going to be a time of education for all concerned including you and I. We will know what direction our leader is taking on 22 January. I want the news media to report which rats are jumping ship and where they are running to.
Pelosi is a f…..g IDIOT!!!
She was apparently smart enough to keep getting elected. Either she was smart or her constituents were totally brainless. But, most likely it’s that she is totally brainless and as like attracts like, so are her followers. It IS after all California, the land of fruits and nuts!
I wish Trump good luck in draining the swsmp, it’s not a easy task to do.
95% of DC voted against Trump. That tells me the whole of DC is a swamp. Good Luck President Donald Trump, our prayers are with you. From all the negative news still coming from the Libs it looks like you are on the right track to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Keep draining the swamp, we are with you.
Great comment! Many of us are praying for President Trump! I would never be so foolish to tell President Trump he can’t do something. He just proved them wrong by getting elected, didn’t he??? LOVE IT!
The truest lesson in all of this Never say never!!
prayers are always needed and I am sure president elect Donald Trump will appreciate our kind thoughts and prayers.
Great Comment!!!
Great Comment…My Sentiments Exactly!!!
Yes Mr. Trump you have our prayers to succeed in all you have planned.
DRAIN THE SWAMP :: THE MAIN ONES …….NOT..THE LITTLE ONES (WORKING PEOPLE )
AMEN !!!!
The MSM is so absolutely nauseating; they can’t get off of their pitty-pots. I as an American – not a Socialist – i am totally fed up with all of the so-called rioting (done by underaged, un-educated brats, who didn’t vote, can’t vote – many who are paid by George Soros, who backed HRC). Enough, already. Go home and pout.
Right On!!!
BIG CITIES WANT T0 KEEP THEIR ILLEGAL CRIMINAL IMMIGRANT VOTERS BECAUSE THEY ALL VOTE FOR THE LEFT WING DEMOCRATIC PARTY. ANY WONDER THEY WANT THESE CRIMINALS IN THEIR CITIES FINANCED BY THE FEDERAL GOVT.TYPICAL SOCIALIST AGENDA TO KEEP THEM IN OFFICE.
EXPAND THE INNER CITY PLANTATION AS THE EXPENSE OF EVERYONE ELSE.
I’m glad to see Mr. Trump is keeping his pledge to drain the swamp. Once a person’s government service is over they should have no problem going home and living under the laws and regulations they helped put in place. America wins when our legislators and administration officials focus on making America better rather than seeing what personal benefit they can gain by selling their vote.
When will Mr. Soros meet his demise – look at his face, so full of bags and sags. As a professed atheist I hope he will go straight to hell.
I’ve heard his son(‘s?) are poised to take over…
Funny how the ‘hot topic’ minorities (except white males ) were being promoted as being critical to the election’s outcome, then, they didn’t show up. Evangelicals showed up in a big way, giving some credit to the power of prayer !
PRAYER Is The ANSWER…HE and WE Want To Make AMERICA GREAT AGAIN…AMEN!!!
Amen
There is TRUE POWER in the prayers that so many of us were praying during this very stressful election process. We all need to remember that it’s not over yet! Mr. Trump has not taken his oath of office and is not yet our President. We MUST continue our fervent prayers for our country and her leaders always. May God guide, impart wisdom, bless and keep safe Mr. Trump, Gov. Pence and all the people that are to be working to fulfill the mission as set out by the Trump Team.. 2Chorinthians 7:14.
I THINK THE TRUMPEROO WILL DO A GREAT JOB, IT WONT BE EASY BECAUSE OF EXISTING LAWS. BUT FOR A GUY THAT JUST WON AN ELECTION HE IS NOT WASTING ANY TIME GETTING HIS CREW IN WORKING ORDER. THE ELECTION WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING, THE SILENT MAJORITY RAISED ITS UGLY HEAD AN TOOK ONE HELLUVA BITE OUT OF THE PUTRID OBUMBA POLICIES.
my gracious heavenly father showed up this time, when the swamp is drained we will have our Christian nation back. thank you Donald Trump, I knew you could do it.
Gracious, indeed! WE were the ones who had been neglectful in OUR duty to be the oversight of our government. I thank God that we woke up in time to at least partially understand what we were losing! We must not ever let that happen again. We must always be vigilant to keep watch of those who are in government (and elsewhere) to make sure that all is on the up and up and that they are doing their jobs according to our laws. Prior to voting, we must do our own investigation into each candidate on our ballot to ensure that they will perform their job in alliance with our values. We’ve had enough of the shenanigans going on in our country an we aren’t out of the woods yet. Keep praying, y’all!! Blessings!!
It is very interesting to see all the people that think they can tell Mr Trump, WHAT TO DO. I think he has worked this out for quite sometime, and I think he knows what he is doing. So, just set back and watch the show. When all completed we will be able to see how things will run. Just PRAY for him to get the help he needs. GOD BLESS YOU Mr. Trump.
AMEN!
Great Comment!!!
MR. TRUMP NEEDS TO START HIS DAY. EACH DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH PRAYER BEFORE DOING GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.
I Am Sure He Does, EVERYDAY…He Told Leslie Stahl, From 60 Minutes (On Sunday), During His Interview With Her.
Hope Pres Elect Trump takes a hard look at a current billion dollar lawsuit against Ms. Hamburg, formerly a Hillary appointed FDA Commissioner who suppressed the side effects of the dangerous antibiotic LEVAQUIN, so that her husband who was a
joint CEO of Renaissance Technologies could profit on patients’ misery from his investment in thIs J&J drug ! Criminal.
Yes, Mary, there is a lot of that kind of thing going on in all areas of government. It’s called a conflict of interest and I believe should be a crime and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It may be already a crime on the books, it’s just not been prosecuted. Take a look at so many who have done the same, such as AG Loretta Lynch. We don’t want that anymore and should be screaming about it to ensure that those people are promptly removed from office and forever barred from any government employment for life.
I think, he is balancing his cabinet, with people that can help him, bring his policies into practice, and select people that have an honesty approach to government. This is going to be a bumpy ride if you don’t agree, but if you didn’t vote SHUT UP!
Go Trump, I believe that you can do this! The election, has everyone in the Hillary camp wondering what the hell just happened? The silent majority, said, “we are mad as hell and we are not going to take in any more.” Hillary’s camp didn’t count the silent majority, again. Hillary forgot one VERY IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTAL THING. We Americans love our country!! We haven’t spoken cause no one has spoken to us and listened to us! Trump listened and listened, I think he got an earful of people deeply loving their country, and not wanting to have more unscrupulous behavior or lies from our government. We will have to be patient for Hillary’s very special treatment from Trump ‘s cabinet. She will not like it at all.
Want to have a very major impact on lobbys? Repeal the Seveteenth Amendment to the Constitution! Don’t fool around with orderly transitions, term limits or protests. Each State of the Union needs representation. It was a fourth branch we foolishly altered.Give “Your fired!” a real meaning for senators.
Here are some very important political watchdog organizations the will inform you what’s going on in federal (and some state) politics and politicians. Some you need to join or register, most are free and nonprofit and run off donations. These are important organization to help clean up Congress, expose fraud, etc.
Organization such as Open Secrets keep track of representatives finances, GovTrack.use your reps, contact info, committee their on. SourceWatch, watchdog.net, follow the money (a nonpartisan verifiable archives of political contributions to a campaign and its free), Public Accountability Initiative a non-profit, public interest research organization investigating power and corruption at the heights of business and government both federal and state, Sunlight Foundation nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses the tools of civic tech, open data, policy analysis and journalism to make our government and politics more accountable and transparent to all, LittleSis, tracks businesses linked to politicians, who knows who., MapLight reveals money’s influence in politics, GovernmentDocs.org collaborative project with some of the previous organization above a huge database of government documents obtained by the FOIA. The Foreign Lobbying Influence Tracker, tracks foreign lobbyist and their influence on US politics and votesmart one of the best site that follow over 40,000 US politicians federal, state and local politicians, facts of how they voted, monies/funding and last the campaign finance report that let’s you the disclosed database for politician. PACs, political party summaries. Of course Judicial Watch.
Lets just pray and be on his side that some wacko dont try and bring harm to him im not trusting the hillary gang. And lets pray everyday for mr. Trump and let god do his work on him and this once soon to be is one nation under God. And god bless us americans and the world for the better of peace and life.
PRAYER GOT TRUMP ELECTED, PRAY WILL EMPOWER HIM, PRAYER WILL SUSTAIN HIM..
WE NEED TO STAY ON OUR KNEES FOR TRUMP AND OUR COUNTRY. . . .A PROMISE FROM
GOD. . . . . . . . ”THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU AND YOU SHALL HOLD YOUR PEACE” EXODUS 14;14
(ONE OF MY LIFE VERSES)
I have prayed, many times a day, that we would have the chance to save our country–and the quiet, law-abiding citizens DID just that. We have the chance to see our country saved for our children, grandchildren and their futures. Perhaps there’s even a chance that we might see our Day of Prayer acknowledged by our president, our military leaders given the right to lead our troops, and the average, American citizen able to again have free speech without being mocked!
Drain the swamp? He can only do that with appointed personnel. It is up to the voters to vote elected officials out of office. As far as the appointments and nominations that Trump is considering there are bound to be some familiar names and faces as he tries to match the best people possible to the jobs. He could however look further afield than the political field and current government officials for some of his selections. Academia and business could also prove to be good source for well qualified people for some positions. For example: Professor Paul Johnson of Utah State University would be an excellent choice for “Secretary of Agriculture”. Mark F. Burton – a successful small business person would be a good choice for Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Prominent educator Cecil O Samuelson, Jr. as Secretary of Education. And who better than H. Gene Overstreet as Secretary of Veterans Affairs?
As to draining the swamp; a good place to start is with all those Czars that Obama hired along with their staffs and only replace those (if any) that were actually essential.
I hope, expect and pray that those Czars are unemployed on Jan 20
The people who voted have spoken- if you did not vote you gave up your one and only chance to have a voice.
Protesting leads to riots, pilfering and damages of personal property- still you have no voice and face criminal charges.
Be a true American, participate in the right to vote!
WTF are all these ******* cry babies crying about? Lobbying is nothing but legal bribery, business and industry are buying out our spineless immoral politicians. Why the **** doesn’t the MSM point this out? Trump needs to purge the scum out and release everything via the Ron Paul channel(/network/radio).
Here’s the thing, one doesn’t need to be a registered lobbyist, to do everything a lobbyist does. Already there are thousands within 50 miles of the White House. What we need are laws defining ‘Lobbyist’ that have teeth in them.
I have full confidence in Trump. His actions until now are swift and decisive. He is hiring the right help and he is bringing the world to its knees (see all the people/countries who want to work with him; some out or fear, some out of genuine admiration. He will drain the swamp, swiftly, “under budget and in less time”. I am so glad that God heard our prayers.
As for Congress critters not wanting to limit their post-Washington careers: They can always return home and get a real job.
You want to really drain the swamp, put an end to the numerous agencies hiring individuals from companies that go right back to those companies once they have stacked the deck in favor of those same companies. Shouldn’t have people who worked for Monsanto working for the FDA or people who are employed by big Pharmaceutical companies. People from companies that pollute our environment shouldn’t be allowed to work for the EPA. If the average American understood how often this happens they would be outraged. No different than having a pedophile work at a children’s day care center. Drain the Swamp!
YES!!! I have been yelling about this for a long time!!
Trump stick to your original plans, that’s what we voted for.
He won’t get very far as the political establishment holds more power than the President. They could block everything he tries to do. Negotiate with them, renegotiate and see which side caves.
Sure, their constituents can demand they vote for the bill, but it doesn’t mean they’ll listen and vote the way we want them too. They ignored us during Obamacare, what makes you think they’ll listen now? If he creates laws through Executive Order then he’s no better than Obama. He’s pissed off both sides of the political spectrum and their ideologies. He’s going to have to reach out to Republicans first but at this point there really isn’t a huge difference between the two parties anymore. They vote for themselves and how the leadership wants them to vote. Americans? Who are they? I really hope they give Trump a chance. If Trump’s policies reverses the economy and its starts to rebound then everyone will claim they were on board the entire time. Their politicians I expect nothing different. Demand town halls with your representative, research how they vote and when they ignore us, remove them from Office.
I openingly confronted my former congressman when I research how he voted and what he told us how he would vote. Locally. during an interview with the local station. He complained about Nancy Pelosi using federal funds to fly back and forth
GIGO, keep it coming, get rid of the Old Blood, Old mindsets, change rules & regs.
Make few “exceptions” if any.
I hope that Trump and all politicians trying to free up money get the idea of skyping from the states and use the White House as a museum and charge for tours and put all profits toward the national debt. The lobbyers will have to go in 50 directions then. Then the politicians will see their constituents more often. Worth a try.
I believe that one big step we need to make is to get prayer back into the schools. Our children have been led away from God
with the demoncrates in charge of education. We need to put the states back in charge of the school system, Teach them while they are young and they will not depart from it.
I do agree with you Mr. Booth. Prayer should be returned to the schools to show the children that there is a God that created this earth and that loves them and wants to be in their lives. THAT would prove to make huge changes in the population. We also need to be teaching the TRUE history of our country and saying the pledge of allegiance. Children don’t even know the words to the pledge anymore. That will enhance a sense of patriotism, which has been lost, as shown by the marches of protest and rioting of late. God bless!
As far as I’m concerned Paul Ryan should be “fired”, along with Mitch McConnell. Both of these guys are playing nice right now, but Trump better watch his back. They were against him, now they are for him. Get real. McConnell has already said the term limits Trump wants will not be passed, so this should tell Trump something, but of course Trump didn’t have a say in their remaining in their positions. Some of these people have been in for 25-30 years, and they aren’t contributing anything but space. Most are millionaire’s, and don’t want their gravy train to end. Look how long Senator Byrd was in, he died at 93, and was still there. These people will never give up. Trump is going to be their worst enemy for as long as he is President. He believes in doing what he said he would do, drain the swamp, but there aren’t very many of those that are still in the Senate, or the Congressmen that will help him at all. If he doesn’t get some real good honest people around him, he is on his own.