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Obama 'to curb lobbyists' reach' Obama 'to curb lobbyists' reach'
(about 2 hours later)
US President-elect Barack Obama will usher in new rules to restrict the role of lobbyists as he puts together his administration, says a senior official. US President-elect Barack Obama will introduce rules to restrict the role of lobbyists as he shapes his administration, says a senior official.
Transition chief John Podesta said Mr Obama would introduce "the strictest, and most far reaching ethics rules of any transition team in history". Transition chief John Podesta said Mr Obama would introduce "the strictest and most far reaching ethics rules of any transition team in history".
He promised the "most open and transparent" ever handover of power.He promised the "most open and transparent" ever handover of power.
Mr Podesta gave no indication of when the key posts of treasury secretary and secretary of state would be filled.Mr Podesta gave no indication of when the key posts of treasury secretary and secretary of state would be filled.
Various interest groups have been circulating lists and offering recommendations on cabinet-level appointments to the Obama transition team.Various interest groups have been circulating lists and offering recommendations on cabinet-level appointments to the Obama transition team.
Both Mr Obama, who takes office on 20 January, and his defeated Republican rival John McCain regularly railed against lobbyists during the presidential election campaign.Both Mr Obama, who takes office on 20 January, and his defeated Republican rival John McCain regularly railed against lobbyists during the presidential election campaign.
Favour-peddlersFavour-peddlers
They accusing them of peddling favours and influence to sway Capitol Hill lawmakers in a culture of corruption.They accusing them of peddling favours and influence to sway Capitol Hill lawmakers in a culture of corruption.
At a briefing in Washington, Mr Podesta told reporters: "President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to change the way Washington works and curb the influence of lobbyists." At a briefing in Washington, Mr Podesta told reporters Mr Obama had "pledged to change the way Washington works and curb the influence of lobbyists".
Clearly, this guy [Mr Obama] is going to bring a great sense of family to the White House George W Bush John McCain saw the funny side of his election defeat on a US talk show
Under the new measures, Mr Obama will not allow lobbyists actively petitioning the federal government to work with the transition, said Mr Podesta.Under the new measures, Mr Obama will not allow lobbyists actively petitioning the federal government to work with the transition, said Mr Podesta.
The guidelines will also prevent anyone who has acted as a lobbyist over the last 12 months from working on any policy area in the transition in which they had been active.The guidelines will also prevent anyone who has acted as a lobbyist over the last 12 months from working on any policy area in the transition in which they had been active.
He added that anyone who works on the transition and then becomes a lobbyist will be barred from approaching the administration for 12 months in the area in which they worked.He added that anyone who works on the transition and then becomes a lobbyist will be barred from approaching the administration for 12 months in the area in which they worked.
Mr Podesta also told reporters the future of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre was under review, but that it was a complicated matter, as he put it. Meanwhile, in his first post-election TV interview, Sen McCain ruled out another run for the presidency, saying: "I wouldn't think so, my friend. It's been a great experience and we're going to have another generation of leaders come along."
In a previous news briefing, he said Mr Obama would use his executive powers to reverse decisions by outgoing President George W Bush which restricted stem cell research and sought to allow oil drilling in wilderness areas. 'Sleep like a baby'
'100mph to zero' Appearing on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he said his running mate Sarah Palin inspired people and predicted she "would play a big role in the future of this country".
Meanwhile new details emerged of Monday's visit by Mr Obama and his wife Michelle to the White House to meet the outgoing president and first lady. Mr McCain joked that since being trounced by Mr Obama in last week's election he had been "sleeping like a baby".
Laura Bush is reportedly exploring a book deal for her memoirs Clearly, this guy [Mr Obama] is going to bring a great sense of family to the White House George W Bush
Mr Bush told CNN that after their policy discussion, his successor had wanted to check out the future bedrooms of his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven. "I sleep two hours, wake up and cry," he added, repeating a joke he made after losing to George W Bush during the Republican primaries in 2000.
New details emerged, meanwhile, in Mr Bush's first post-election interview of Monday's visit by Mr Obama and his wife Michelle to the White House to meet the outgoing president and first lady.
Mr Bush told CNN that after their policy discussion, his successor had wanted to check out the future bedrooms of his two daughters.
"It was interesting to watch him go upstairs, and he wanted to see where his little girls were going to sleep," Mr Bush said."It was interesting to watch him go upstairs, and he wanted to see where his little girls were going to sleep," Mr Bush said.
Mr Bush also said he would go from "100 mph to near zero overnight" once he left the WHite House and Mr Obama took the oath of office. Mr Bush also told CNN: "I know I'll miss certain things about the presidency. I also know I'm looking forward to getting home, so I've got mixed emotions."
"I know I'll miss certain things about the presidency," Mr Bush told CNN. "I also know I'm looking forward to getting home, so I've got mixed emotions." Meanwhile the Associated Press news agency reported First Lady Laura Bush was in the early stages of talks with publishers about a memoir on her time in the White House.
Meanwhile the Associated Press news agency reported that First Lady Laura Bush is in the early stages of confidential talks with publishers to write a memoir about her time in the White House.