Sunday, September 06, 2009
J. James Rohack, president-elect of the American Medical Association, met twice with Obama in June
For the first time in many presidential administrations, President Barack Obama has agreed to publish the names of almost all visitors to the White House. Under the new policy, visitors ranging from tourists to business leaders will have their names posted online by the end of the year on a month-to-month basis.
Those exempted from the new rule include people attending “particularly sensitive” meetings, such as interviews for top jobs; personal guests of the first family; and visitors whose identities cannot be revealed for national security reasons.
The White House agreed to open up its visitors logs after the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed multiple lawsuits seeking information dating back to the Bush administration.
Publishing the names of business interests could have an impact on lobbying efforts aimed at the White House. A list of health care executives and representatives who have visited this year reveals pharmaceutical companies, insurers, hospitals and doctors groups have met with President Obama or his staff 43 times so far in 2009.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
In Shift From Prior Administrations, White House to Open Visitor List (by Michael A. Fletcher, Washington Post)
The White House Will Disclose Visitor Logs (by Peter Baker, New York Times)
Partial List of White House Visitors 2009 (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) (PDF)
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