Romney Would Limit Lobbyist Roles

Advisers to Mitt Romney would limit the role of lobbyists in transition teams and the White House if the Republican presidential candidate wins the election.

The Romney camp is considering a one-year ban to prevent registered lobbyists from taking jobs in the administration that overlap with their previous advocacy work, people familiar with the matter said. This would be similar to a two-year ban put in place by President Barack Obama, though he has offered exemptions in certain cases. Romney's aides already have decided on a one-year ban for lobbyists who are part of transition teams from lobbying the agencies they worked on. Should Romney win, these "landing teams" are meant to arrive in Washington quickly—before the Jan. 20 inauguration—to make policy and personnel decisions. Some lobbyists working with the Romney camp have complained that the ban would punish them in return for their help.