The First Hundred Days of the Obama Administration

[Alex]

Those already hired will be banned from working on matters they have previously lobbied on, or to approach agencies that they once targeted.

This is a stupid rule, in my opinion. Like it or not, lobbyists are experts in an area. If you simply don't want former lobbyists say so. Though I don't agree with the general branding of lobbyists as a dirty thing.

Kind of like saying we're going to hire thoracic surgeons but they won't be allowed to hold scalpels.

And it is disingenuous. They'll hire people who are policy experts in an area but either have never been overtly active in pursuing policy or were merely the people who hired the lobbyists to do their bidding. The CEO of United Airlines could be named to run the FAA but the United Airlines lobbyist couldn't be hired to work on a commission on modernizing the air traffic control system? Stupid.