Making Government Transparent and Accountable
The Sunlight Foundation uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent and accountable. Underlying all of our efforts is a fundamental belief that increased transparency will improve the public's confidence in government
The Sunlight Foundation Blog
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Who’s Lobbying on Guantanamo Bay?
We all know that there are lobbyists for companies and unions managing their, or their members, bottom lines. There are lobbyists on social issues and those seeking a cut of the budget pie. Truly, there are enough lobbyists in Washington to go around for any issue. So, considering the dual Obama-Cheney speeches on anti-terrorism policy, specifically the future of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, I thought I’d take a look at who is lobbying around Gitmo.
Lobbying on Guantanamo Bay Policy (2009) Name 1st Q Lobbying American Bar Association $240,000 American Civil Liberties Union $438,418 Amnesty International $90,000 Kansas Department of Commerce $40,000 NETWORK $75,000 Open Society Policy Center $430,000 National Security Archives Fund - People for the American Way $50,000 Traditional Values Coalition $25,300 This year, there are nine registrations related to Guantanamo Bay policy. The majority of those lobbying represent human rights, liberal or legal organizations opposed to the policy of detention at Guantanamo. These groups include the American Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, the Open Society Policy Institute, and People for the American Way.
Joining these groups in support of President Obama’s plans to close the detention center is the NETWORK lobby, a liberal catholic advocacy organization. NETWORK’s lobbying disclosure gets very specific on the policies they both support and oppose, but on the reasons why. On the policy in Guantanamo Bay they write, “NETWORK strongly opposes facilities such as the ‘prison’ at Guantanamo, where persons suspected on possible acts against the United States are held in ways which do not honor their dignity as created in the image of God, and who are disallowed what would be expected civil rights in the United States.”
In opposition to the President’s decision to close the detention center are two organizations, one state agency and one Religious Right group. The Kansas Department of Commerce, seemingly out of fear that detainees may be relocated to Fort Leavenworth, is supporting the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center Safe Closure Act (S. 291/H.R. 1069). The bill, which would require the administration to submit plans on the closure of the Guantanamo detention center to Congress, is sponsored in the Senate by both Kansas senators, Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts. The bill is seen by supporters of the President’s policy as a roadblock to relocating the detainees.
Also, supporting the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center Safe Closure Act is the Traditional Values Coalition (TVC). The TVC is headed by the Rev. Lou Sheldon, who a few years ago was revealed to have accepted large sums of gambling interest money in Jack Abramoff’s corrupt swindle of Indian tribes. The TVC web site carries many releases assailing the potential policy of releasing detainees to Fort Leavenworth and opposing the provision of welfare to terrorists (a policy I was unaware that anyone had proposed).
One other group listed as lobbying around the Guantanamo policy is the National Security Archives, a research institute located at George Washington University. Most likely the Archives are lobbying for the release of information regarding the detention center, but it is unclear from their lobbying disclosure.
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Talk of Transparency on Campaign Trail
The Reason Foundation has been getting the presidential candidates to talk more about transparency on the campaign trail by asking them to sign a pledge to run a transparent administration and fully enforce the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, also known as Coburn-Obama. The FFATA requires the Office of Management and Budget to disclose all federal funding contracts, grants, and earmarks in a searchable database. The Sunlight Foundation was a part of a coalition of groups that worked to pass the bill, in particular working to out the Senator with a secret hold on the bill. So far, three candidates – Barack Obama, Ron Paul, and Sam Brownback – have signed the pledge. It’s great to see transparency taking a hold as an issue in the 2008 presidential election. Hopefully, we’ll hear from more candidates on the issue soon. For now, check out below for the statements made by the three pledge signees.
Sen. Barack Obama: "Every American has the right to know how the government spends their tax dollars, but for too long that information has been largely hidden from public view. This historic law will lift the veil of secrecy in Washington and ensure that our government is transparent and accountable to the American people. And I will be proud to fully implement and enforce this law as president."
Rep. Ron Paul: "Signing the Oath of Presidential Transparency was a no brainer for me. I will aggressively pursue full openness and accountability within my administration if elected president."
Sen. Sam Brownback: "Americans need to feel they can trust their government. As president I will continue my record of supporting policies that increase government transparency and boost confidence in our democratic system."
