Well, the corporate special interests really did appreciate being placed above the public interest -- so much so, they wanted to put their money where their mouth is and host a reception for outgoing OIRA administrator John Graham. From the Washington Post: Did you mark your calendars next week for a "farewell reception" Tuesday "honoring John Graham ," the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget? That's the super-powerful office that oversees many business regulations. The lobbying firm Valis Associates, which lists manufacturing, telecommunications and energy groups among its 2005 clients, had booked the Committee on Small Business room in the Rayburn House Office Building for the event. Graham has often been blasted for being pro-business, and some hypersensitive eyebrows arched yesterday about this gathering. But he is leaving his job March 1, and people throw farewell receptions all the time to thank oversight officials for jobs well done. Even so, OMB spokesman Alex Conant , asked yesterday about the reception, said: "After it was first cleared by the ethics office, our understanding of the basic event changed and no longer fits within our ethical guidelines, so it was canceled." We're told the cancellation came around 5:30 p.m. Why would corporate special interests be so enamored of the head of such an obscure office? Find out more in The Graham Files.