An Obama administration memo released Friday says lobbyists cannot meet or speak with executive branch officials regarding specific stimulus projects or applications, must document and publicly post their specific stimulus requests in writing and can speak with administration officials about stimulus funds only if the conversation is general in nature and is documented in writing and posted for public review.

"It's setting up a behavior of discrimination of law-abiding citizens," said American League of Lobbyists President David Wenhold, who last weekend fielded many emails and calls from lobbyists furious about the new rules.

The White House memo warns all executive department and agency leaders that they may not consider the views of lobbyists concerning "particular projects, applications, or applicants for funding" under the stimulus bill unless those views are in writing.

The memo also says department and agency leaders must post to their websites, within three business days of receipt, any written comments from lobbyists "concerning the commitment, obligation, or expenditure of funds" under the stimulus bill for particular projects, applications, or applicants.

Finally, department and agency leaders cannot meet with or talk on the telephone with lobbyists about specific stimulus funding.

"Lobbyists may communicate orally with a department or agency about general (stimulus) issues," the memo states. Such conversations however, cannot "extend to or touch upon particular projects, applications, or applicants for funding."  Moreover, the memo states, the person contacted must record the date, time and description of the conversation, as well as those involved in the conversation, and then post this record to a department website.

Read the full Roll Call story at http://www.rollcall.com/.

Read about the White House rules at President Obama's Memorandum.