As we've noted, one of the biggest problems in Washington is the level of secrecy in lobbying. Pundits, consultants, fundraisers, and other political professional make back room deals without ever registering as lobbyists, so the public is constantly left in the dark about who is really shaping our government. President Obama's call to ban registered lobbyists from his administration, while steeped in good intentions, made the problem worse because many lobbyists simply deregistered, further enshrouding the corporate influence industry in secrecy.
Major media outlets are beginning to probe the problem: |