Non-profits seek exception to lobby rule

WASHINGTON, April 21 (UPI) -- Non-profits say U.S. President Obama should rethink his no-lobbyist-in-the-administration rule when considering supporters of public, not corporate, issues.

They point to Tom Malinowski, Washington advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, who has served in the State Department and on the National Security Council, saying he should have been a shoo-in for the job of White House human rights chief. But his being a registered lobbyist sank any hope for consideration, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

"It's an outrage," said Stephen Rickard, executive director of the Open Society Policy Center, an advocacy organization. "It's extremely unfortunate that Tom and people like Tom can't be brought in to use their talents."

A coalition of non-profits started a campaign to exempt lobbyists for charitable and social welfare organizations with tax-free status, meeting with aides and sending the White House ideas for rewriting the policy. Some officials told the Times they privately agree, saying the ban effectively bars from the administration people who lobbied for human rights, the environment and consumer issues Obama supports.

"There are a lot of good people out there who are philosophically simpatico with us and are very skilled and would be very valuable to us," said David Axelrod, Obama's senior adviser. However, "you can't have carve-outs for lobbyists you like and exclude those that you don't."