Just a quick post to advise that we granted an authorization under Section 3 of the President's Ethics Executive Order to Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett to lead the White House's effort to support Chicago's bid to secure the 2016 Olympics.
The President promised during the campaign that staff would not work on contracts or regulations directly related to their former employers. We have captured that promise in Paragraph 2 of our revolving door rules, which applies to non-lobbyists. Valerie previously served as Vice Chair of Chicago 2016, the non-profit entity responsible for the Chicago bid. Although Chicago 2016 was not her "former employer" in traditional terms, the term "former employer" in the President's Order encompasses entities that appointees served as directors or officers, as Valerie did here. (To be clear, Valerie was not a lobbyist for Chicago 2016, and this waiver has nothing to do with lobbying.)
We decided that a waiver of Paragraph 2 was in the public interest in order to help bring the Olympics back to the United States. Valerie’s past experience with Chicago 2016 makes her ideal to work with the city and its bid committee to help win the Olympics for the U.S., with the many benefits that would bestow.
Yeah, it is a bunch of hogwash. And Chicago's not the only damn city in the US. Chicago's not even prepared for the Olympics. But that's where Valerie comes in.
Left out of the White House 'briefing' is that Valerie sits on the board of United States Gypsum Corporation (USG). They have their corporate offices in Chicago and, oh yeah, they manufacture construction materials.
So, pay attention, if you were pushing for the Olympics in one city and the Olympics coming to the city would require tons of construction, someone sitting on the board of a constuction materials manufacturing company would be enriching her own pocket.
No, it's not ethical. But C.I. and Ava told you that Valerie would most likely be the ethics scandal in the administration. Valerie owns approximately 4,000 shares in USG.
And all the little push-up bra, do-me faux feminists might want to ask their buddy Barry how Val's going to find time to chair the White House Commission on Women and Girls? Answer: She's not.
There's no money in it.