Caleb Burns Weighs In on Lobbying Activity During First Quarter

April 27, 2017

Caleb P. Burns, partner in Wiley Rein’s Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted by The Washington Post and Politico regarding federal government lobbying activity during the first quarter of the year.  While the total amount spent by industries on lobbying activities is up compared to the same period last year, the number of registered lobbyists has decreased. 

“The transition had a policy of not communicating with registered lobbyists and the first quarter decline is likely a result of lobbyists reading the writing on the wall and assuming the hostility demonstrated in the Obama years is going to continue in the Trump administration,” Mr. Burns said in Politico.

“I think Trump has made it clear that being a lobbyist is not something that is held in high regard,” Mr. Burns told The Washington Post. “I don’t think that has materially changed, and I predict those numbers won’t rise.”

The Washington Post article can be found here.  The Politico article can be found here.