HUD to rental policy groups: Sign agreement, stay quiet

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Politico:

Obama administration officials told a group of housing proponents this month that they must sign a confidentiality agreement to continue participating in talks — a highly unusual request that has drawn criticism from a top Republican lawmaker who is investigating the matter.

The agreement, obtained by POLITICO, bars participants from disclosing details discussed at meetings of a rental policy working group, but it has angered some lobbyists and drawn congressional scrutiny.

“How can they go around and pat themselves on the back as the most transparent administration in history and then turn around and ask lobbyists to sign nondisclosure agreements to keep their meetings secret,” said a lobbyist whose organization was at the Feb. 4 meeting. “It’s like extortion. We’re not going to be able to do our jobs unless we have secret meetings with them.”

Republican Rep. Judy Biggert, the chairwoman of the House Financial Services subcommittee that oversees HUD, received a copy of the nondisclosure agreement from a source who did not attend the meeting, said spokesman Zachary Cikanek.

“If it’s true that the administration is requiring nondisclosure agreements, then HUD has some very serious explaining to do,” he said. “This type of gag order represents a compete reversal of the administration’s own well-publicized transparency standards and I’m confident the congresswoman will seek immediate answers from HUD as to why industry participants are being told to keep quiet if they want a seat at the table.”

An administration official defended the practice saying, “The Obama administration makes it a point to seek input from stakeholders and key constituencies as we develop our policy positions. We will continue to engage a broad range of stakeholders, and will do so in a way that maintains the integrity of our decision-making process.”
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What exactly is Obama afraid of? That the public might find out how crooked HUD is?