Senate OKs Ex-Lobbyist as Defense Nominee

[Paulaguyon]

Source: Washington Post

Despite delays and lingering questions over his lobbying history, William J. Lynn, the nominee for the No. 2 spot at the Pentagon, was confirmed by the Senate today, a victory for the Obama administration.
Obama's choice of Lynn, a former Pentagon official under President Bill Clinton and Obama's choice for deputy defense secretary, had come under fire for being in breach of the new administration's ethics rule barring ex-lobbyists from working on issues they have lobbied about in the past two years.

Lynn spent the better part of the past two years lobbying for defense contractor Raytheon. But he received a special waiver from the president to take office.

Lynn noted that he personally lobbied members of Congress and their staffs on only a "handful of programs," and only lobbied the Defense of Department on one program, the Multiple Kill Vehicle.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2009/02/letters_outline_conflict_betwe.html