Inaugural Parties, Lobbyists’ Havens

When President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team put the clamp down on corporate and lobbyists’ contributions for official inaugural activities, the move was praised as another example of the future president cleaning up Washington.

But Obama’s move hasn’t quashed their role in doling out hundreds of thousands of dollars for the inaugural festivities. Instead of donating cash to the inaugural committee, companies and influence peddlers have opened their pocketbooks to “unofficial” events like the venerable state society balls.

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(Anna Palmer, “Inaugural Parties, Lobbyists’ Havens,” Roll Call, 1/07/09)