Lobbyists’ Influence
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy took President Bill Clinton’s promise to curbthe influence of lobbyists and threw it on the manure pile when he let Washington agribusiness lobbyists Marshall Matz and former Rep. Tony Coello help evaluate the candidates for high-level posts in his own department (Washington Insight, Jan. 25).
Senate Agriculture Committee members should demand that Espy explain why Matz and Coello were involved with selecting Department of Agriculture employees, and determine if other lobbyists have also been involved in the appointment process.
The Senate should also not act on any Department of Agriculture appointments until Espy gives a full and detailed explanation for his actions.
Because lobbyists have been part of his hiring practices, every appointment Espy makes in the future is going to have that certain barnyard aroma to it.
SAMUEL G. LANDON III
Fairfax, Va.
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