The Washington Post has reported that Attorney Ron Klain, Vice-President Elect Biden’s new Chief of Staff, did lobbying work at the Washington office of O’Melveny & Myers, LLP. One of the clients included an entity that called itself the “Coalition for Asbestos Resolution,” which was basically a front group for GAF. This may have been during the time that GAF was leading the fight for a massive asbestos “reform” bill that was defeated in by victim’s advocates (including, of course, Senator Joe Biden). Following the defeat in Congress, GAF filed for bankruptcy, where it still remains.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. There is no evidence, of course, that Klain actually did anything of substance in this lobbying effort, but the Washington Post story does illustrate the closeness of the relationships in our government and its private-sector shadow government (i.e., the lobby shops) which most would agree are an impediment to getting the right things, as opposed to the wrong things, accomplished.
Tags: asbestos
