Sunday, January 4, 2009

Regarding Robert J. Samuelson's Dec. 15 op-ed column, "An Obama Gift for K Street":

Mr. Samuelson is right to defend lobbying as the democratic act of petitioning our government. However, he is dangerously wrong in denying that large corporate interests dominate the lobbying scene.

The Enron, Halliburton and mortgage lending scandals, to name just a few, are evidence of a systemic problem that urgently needs to be solved through reforms of campaign finance, conflict-of-interest laws and other facets of democracy.

By prioritizing the "general welfare" over a financial bottom line, public-interest lobbyists of all stripes play a distinct role in our democracy. Now more than ever, charities and their constituents need to be embraced as equal partners with government and business at the policy table.

LARRY OTTINGER

President

Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest

Washington