Obama Freezes Salaries of White House Staff

U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday during the swearing-in of senior White House staff that he is freezing their salaries to enhance accountability and restore public trust in the government.

He also prescribed strict rules aimed at limiting the influence of lobbyists in American politics.
"We must ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely and that costs are reduced. In times of economic crisis, families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington. Therefore, I am freezing salaries for senior White House staff," Obama said on his first working day in the White House. Salaries will be frozen for about a hundred White House officials who earn more than $100,000 a year, such as the Chief of Staff, National Security Advisor, Press Secretary, and others.

While signing several executive orders regarding service rules for his administration, Obama emphasized that without accountability for public officials, the promised changes regarding "economic renewal, employment, defense and protection of the U.S., and the promotion of peace and security" cannot be implemented. "We are the guardians of public trust. We are here for public service, which is a privilege. It does not serve the promotion of personal interests, the interests of friends, or business clients. It does not serve to promote an ideological agenda or special interests of any organization," he stressed. Public service must simply and fully promote the interests of Americans; you understand that, and that is why you are here, Obama added.

Americans deserve more than promises that those coming to Washington will serve their interests, and this should be written down to be respected, said the new President of the United States. He added that they "deserve a government that is of the people and for the people, and therefore the White House should be the people’s house." "The executive order on ethics is a clear break from the usual way of doing business in Washington," Obama said, announcing the introduction of strict rules regarding the actions of lobbyists, whose influence on legislation and other decisions he strongly criticized during the campaign.

"Lobbyists will be subject to stricter limitations than in any other administration in history starting today," Obama said. Under the new rules, lobbyists entering the administration will not be able to work on matters they have lobbied for or at the agency they have lobbied at in the past two years. Officials leaving the administration will not be able to lobby for the same administration as long as Obama is president. Gifts from lobbyists will be banned for all who serve in the administration.

The administration of President George W. Bush was criticized for expanding the influence of lobbyists in Washington, where lobbying has become a major industry, with $2.41 billion spent in 2008 compared to $1.54 billion in 2000, according to the non-profit organization Center for Responsive Politics (CRP). The number of registered lobbyists increased from 12,756 in 2000 to 14,470 last year, CRP reports. Lobbying firms, the majority of which are located on K Street in Washington, employ over 42,000 people, and the starting annual salary for a lobbyist is around $300,000.

Obama also announced other rules for serving in the administration, which will require full compliance with the Freedom of Information Act from every federal agency, which he believes is "the strongest tool for the government to become fair and transparent." "Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstone for this administration," Obama said, announcing a "new era of openness" in the U.S. after eight years of the Bush administration, which was criticized for its secrecy.

"There has been too much secrecy in this city for too long," Obama said, stating that this era is "over" and that every agency and department should know that his administration supports the release of information, not its concealment. Issues regarding citizens’ privacy and national security are exceptions, Obama said, promising that he himself will adhere to these new standards of openness as president. American journalists welcomed the announced openness of the new government as a great relief in their work. (H)