Did Obama's pick to head Navy break lobbying law - Politico
John Richardson, who now oversees the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, urged attendees at a symposium in Northern Virginia last year to tell their members of Congress to get behind the Navy’s new ballistic missile submarine program, despite... “Inform those in your sphere of influence: everyone from your congressmen to your local PTA,” Richardson said of the estimated $93 billion Ohio-class submarine replacement program at the annual Naval Submarine League symposium, according to a... William Marks, said the service is reviewing the legal concerns, which were originally raised by the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan group specializing in government ethics. The group is asking the Government Accountability Office, the independent oversight arm of Congress, to investigate Richardson’s comments. The group is also accusing a second top Navy officer, Rear Adm. Tofalo, who’s been nominated to be the next commander of Naval Submarine Forces, also spoke at last year’s submarine symposium. It concluded federal officials are allowed to voice their opinions on public policy through direct communications with Congress — but there’s a “bright-line rule” against appeals to the public to contact their members of Congress about legislation... According to military legal experts familiar with the relevant laws, the Navy’s inquiry will. Source: www.politico.com
