Obama Transition to Release Details of Meetings with Outside Groups

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Dated Friday, the memo said that the transition team will post on its Web site the date and organizations represented at official meetings in the transition headquarters and in agency offices, as well as any policy documents and written policy recommendations from such meetings. An “official meeting” is defined as a meeting in which three or more representatives of a specific outside organization attend.

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Citing privacy, the memo said the policy does not apply to personnel matters and hiring recommendations. Private or classified information also will be excluded.

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“This scope is a floor, not a ceiling,” said [Transition Chief] John Podesta, who encouraged staff to include additional materials, such as news releases and recommendations presented in such meetings or made public by the organizations themselves at another time.

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Once the information is posted, the public then can provide feedback through the Web site, http://change.gov/seatatthetable.

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The policy does not extend to the administration, though Obama could institute the same requirements once he is president.