Pay freeze for top aides and limits on lobbyists imposed

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s first act in office was to institute new limits on lobbyists in his White House and freeze salaries of high-paid aides.

Obama said the steps, “represent a clean break from business as usual”.

The pay freeze would hold salaries at current levels for the roughly 100 White House employees who make over $100,000 (€77,000) a year.