Revolving Door Raises Ethics Questions in Housing Reform Debate

This story was originally published by Carter Dougherty, InsideSources.

How easy is it to move between government and industry without running afoul of the law? If Jim Parrott’s relationship with Bank of America is any indication, it’s pretty straightforward. But a new ethics complaint may test that assumption.

Parrott advised the White House about how to overhaul Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during 2011 and 2012 before jumping ship to form his own consultancy. Before a year was out, Parrott appears to have landed a major client: Bank of America, which was keenly interested in how the Obama administration might reform the two mortgage-credit behemoths.

This spin through revolving door underscores how former government officials can try to influence policy...