Groups say stimulus lobbying rules are too strict

I thought this article was interesting giving the topic for tomorrow's class. I am glad to see that transparency has become a very important component of President Obama's plans because one of the best ways to hold people accountable for their actions is to understand what is actually going on. Lobbyists have the same access to the President, but their opinions and topics for conversation will now be constricted solely to those that are determined by the administration. It is better to set strong ground rules from the beginning and give each person an equal opportunity to voice their opinions and their potential ideas than to set the rules as things go by. Despite the disapproval of many of the biggest lobbying organizations in the country, we cannot allow ourselves to be run at their behest. Yes, they are important at bringing issues to light, but ultimately the public does not elect them to lead the country and so it is the responsibility of our lawmakers to make the final decisions about what steps and priorities to take.