BUSINESS/LOBBYING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “During the eight years of the Obama administration, business lobbyists often found the gates to the White House closed tight.
They are open now under President Donald Trump. That is not altogether unexpected as the New York real estate developer did campaign during the 2016 presidential election on a promise to elevate the needs of business, which he argued would fuel economic growth.
What does surprise lobbyists, however, is the sheer number of wins in getting the Trump administration to roll back or delay unfavorable regulations in its first 10 months. And it is occurring despite White House dysfunction and distraction.
The lobbyists say it is a stark departure from the approach of the Obama administration, which had a reputation for aloofness toward business and sought to limit the influence of lobbyists, whom it saw as beholden to special interests. The Trump White House is listening to them, they say. It is returning their phone calls. And it is working to eliminate regulations they view as detrimental to the ability to prosper…
After taking office in January, Trump quickly made it easier to get into the White House…
The White House did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this article.”
-Ginger Gibson, “‘Open Sesame:’ Lobbyists cheer warmer welcome in Trump White House,” Reuters, Nov. 7, 2017 02:04am