The Next Government: Barack Obama

Campaign Website
Government Management Proposals 1
Government Management Proposals 2

Speeches:

6/22/07: Taking our Government Back
Manchester, NH

Candidate Proposal Analysis:

The Obama government reform plan covers a wide range of management-related policy proposals:

• Closing the revolving door

Fels Notes: Obama pledges that appointees will do no work that involves their former employers for two years following their appointment. Additionally no political appointee will be allowed to lobby the administration after he or she leaves the government. This is a more restrictive version of the Clinton position, which would only ban cabinet officials from lobbying after their departure.

• Ending abuse of no-bid contracts

Fels Notes: Obama will mandate that all contracts worth over $25,000 be competitively bid. Written justification will have to be provided by the contracting officer for this rule to be lifted.

• Restoring objectivity to the executive branch

Fels Notes: A three-point plan that includes banning registered lobbyists or their firms from giving to any executive branch employees (ostensibly including non-political appointments). The second item is a broad promise that an Obama administration will refrain from using ideology as a litmus test for hiring within the executive branch. Obama vows to sign an executive order to this effect, and force managers to certify that neither political ideology nor financial contribution played a role in the selection of career employees. The final item promises a second executive order affirming the Hatch Act and requiring the Inspector General to investigate any complaints of a Hatch Act violation within 60 days.

• Shining light on Washington lobbying

Fels Notes: Obama vows to support legislation similar to what he introduced in the Senate banning gifts from lobbyists to elected officials and keeping former Senators from the Senate floor, gym, and parking facilities if they are registered lobbyists. Another piece of legislation he proposed in the Senate would have created an independent enforcement agency to oversee ethics investigations of the Congress. He would also increase disclosure requirements so that ‘procurement lobbying’ and lobbying for pardons is disclosed just as lobbying for legislation would be. Next, Obama promises to create a user-friendly database of all lobbying reports, congressional ethics records, and campaign finance data on the internet. Finally, Obama would require disclosure of any contribution to a presidential inaugural committee, presidential library, foundation, or similar cause regardless of who makes the contribution.

• Giving government back to the people

Fels Notes: Obama promises not to sign non-emergency bills without five days of consideration, and will not use signing statements to “undermine the legislative intent.” He will demand that Cabinet officials conduct town hall gatherings, ensure full compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, and require more public meetings for regulatory agencies. He also discusses increased disclosure regarding White House communications (all non-national security-related or other sensitive matters would be disclosed readily).

Obama vows to nullify President Bush’s executive order giving the White House expanded discretion in releasing presidential records. He then mentions a “Google-like” search engine to make it easier for Americans to research grants, contracts, earmarks, and loans on the internet. He further promises to appoint only qualified people to the executive branch.