Obama moves a step in the right direction

On his first full day in office, Sen. Barack Obama issued executive orders designed to restore faith in government, including shutting down the revolving door between the executive branch and the lobbying industry:

The lobbying rules announced yesterday aim to end what has become a way of life in Washington, where those serving in an administration collect chits that are quickly cashed in once they depart government. Under the new rules, presidential appointees who leave office will not be allowed to lobby any federal agency as long as Obama remains in office.

"It's not about advantaging yourself. It's not about advancing your friends or your corporate clients. It's not about advancing an ideological agenda or the special interests of any organization," Obama told Cabinet members and senior staff at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. "Public service is, simply and absolutely, about advancing the interests of Americans."

I am sure there will be some critics who say this executive order is unrealistic and will keep good people from entering public service. If what we are getting are people who are looking to cash in then those are people we can do without.

It would be great if the state of Missouri would take such steps, both in the executive and legislative branches.