Obama Signs Orders To Expand Transparency In Government Actions, Limit Lobbyists Influence

摘要

In his first full day in office, President Obama on Wednesday signed executive orders creating greater access to all government documents through the Freedom of Information Act and putting in place tighter ethics guidelines for executive branch staff.rnThe new rules could have a significant impact on energy policy making because they clamp down on the influence of lobbyists and will allow easier access to information about who public officials meet with thanks to an expansion of FOIA.rnThe Bush administration received considerable condemnation for refusing to release the names of industry officials, including lobbyists, on Vice President Cheney's energy task force. The task force formed the basis of various regulations throughout the federal government as well as the sweeping Energy Policy Act of 2005, which aided nuclear, fossil and renewable energy. President Bush never released the names of those on the task force, citing privacy and executive privilege.