Kerry Issues List Detailing Contacts With Lobbyists

[Thrill]

"We released this information today," Kerry campaign spokesman, Chad Clanton said. "Now it's the Bush campaign's turn to release the list of oil company lobbyists in Cheney's secret energy task force that rewrote our energy policy."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32509-2004Apr21.html

[sandnsea]

1. WOW!! This is terrific!

I had forgotten all about this. This is just super. I am really glad he remembered this promise to release all his records and require public records of all meetings between government and lobbyists.

"No member of Congress-turned-presidential candidate has ever listed in such detail contacts with lobbyists, who are paid to influence policy decisions."

"White House officials and members of Congress are not required to disclose their contacts, which makes Kerry's voluntary disclosure unique, not only among presidential candidates but also lawmakers."

There was a certain comfort level there" meeting with the Massachusetts crowd, Kip O'Neill said. Kerry was a hard lawmaker to persuade, lobbyists said, and therefore he was not as beseeched as much as other lawmakers. "If your interests coincided he'd be a great advocate," Kip O'Neill said. "But he wouldn't carry anybody's water because he knew them or had a meeting with them."

For example, O'Neill recalled, Kerry sided with the Baby Bell companies rather than AT&T in the debate over telecommunications legislation.

[LittleApple81]

2. Just to kick it for the morning crowd. Great idea by Kerry. n/t