Why would some elected and appointed agency officials want limited public disclosure of interactions with lobbyists and special interests?

U.S. Meetings With Lobbyists Go Unreported

 

…Since the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in February, federal agencies have reported 197 contacts with lobbyists about stimulus grants.

 

In August, the entire government reported only eight such lobbying contacts. The Pentagon, which controls about $7.4 billion in stimulus spending, reported just one lobbying contact so far this year. The Homeland Security Department, with at least $3 billion to spend, reported none.

 

Lobbyists have separately reported work related to stimulus projects, and in many cases have operated in new ways to skirt restrictions on their efforts to influence stimulus spending.

 

Rita Beamish

Associated Press, August 31, 2009