7: Ethics

Ethics

Other Information:

“I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists — and won. They have not funded my campaign, they will not run my White House, and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I am president.”— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007The ProblemLobbyists Write National Policies: For example, Vice President Dick Cheney's Energy Task Force of oil and gas lobbyists met secretly to develop national energy policy.Secrecy Dominates Government Actions: The Bush administration has ignored public disclosure rules and has invoked a legal tool known as the "state secrets" privilege more than any other previous administration to get cases thrown out of civil court.Wasteful Spending is Out of Control: The current administration has abused its power by handing out contracts without competition to its politically connected friends and supporters. These abuses cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.

Objective(s):

7.1: Ethics and Lobbying Information

7.2: Monitoring

7.3: Open Legislation

7.4: Contracts and Influence Database

7.5: Special Interest Tax Breaks

7.6: No-Bid Contracts

7.7: Sunlight Before Signing

7.8: Shine Light on Earmarks and Pork Barrel Spending

7.9: Fireside Chats

7.10: White House Communications

7.11: Regulations

7.12: Presidential Records

7.13: Revolving Door

7.14: Political Influence

7.15: Political Appointment Process

7.16: Executive Branch Ethics

7.17: Performance Team and Chief Performance Officer

7.18: Procurement

7.19: Whistleblowers

7.20: Line-by-Line Review of Spending

7.21: Earmarks

7.22: Corporate Tax Loopholes

Content