Private party is defined as anyone except someone in Federal/state/local employ.
I have a problem with that.
EDIT: What I mean is I have a problem with only recording contacts with "private" persons, not between government officials/employees who don't normally work together.
Any such contact by government officials, especially any that are not PART of the Executive Branch, should be recorded in exactly the same way.
Especially given Federalism, how is such a contact between Joe Schmo, Honorable Mayor of Hookahville, and the President, really any different from a contact between Mary Schmo, CEO of the Hookahville Motor Car Corp., and the President?
The town of Hookahville is looking after its own independent interests, which might or might not conflict with those of the USA as a whole (and which might flow money into the town coffers or the Mayor's wallet). What's the difference between that and a similar contact with the Hookahville Motor Car Corp.?
This bill seems to be all about increasing and consolidating government power and secrecy across the board, while diminishing the influence of any private party on the Executive Branch. That doesn't sound too democratic, but it's pretty typical of "liberal" ideas to improve things.