LOD: Access to Budget Cutters

Practical lobbyists in Washington are telling their clients to open their checkbooks because their ox may be gored by the Super 12 – the yet-to-be-named bipartisan committee of US Senators and Representatives who will recommend where to make additional budget cuts of at least $1.2 trillion. One lobbyist said he’s writing 12 big checks to ensure an inside advantage for his clients. Other practical observers believe the committee will end in another super-charged partisan stalemate, which will trigger indiscriminate across-the-board spending cuts. But lobbyists profit when groups are fighting for favors or protection, and in this case the healthcare industry and defense contractors are especially vulnerable (because of bloated subsidies) so expect to see them making large investments in their lobbyists – and in contributions to the Super 12. As a pre-emptive strike, our friends at Public Campaign are demanding that the Super 12 agree not to accept any political donations and also disclose all meetings with lobbyists. They’re asking you to sign a petition to get that message across, and a cadre of good government groups are joining in their letter making the core demand. The Sunlight Foundation also wants all the meetings of the Super 12 open, with maximum transparency in everything, even if it promotes grandstanding as much as a grander deal for the public.