The fact that this was ever even an honest-to-goodness question, does not bode well for the Obama administration’s ostensibly ongoing efforts at improving transparency in a second term. From Politico:

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced that President Obama’s official swearing-in will be open to the press, allaying the concerns of the White House press corps that had feared restricted access.

“[T]here will be media access to the official swearing in on Sunday,” a PIC representative told POLITICO. “We are still working out additional details and logistics and expect to be able to share more about media coverage plans for that ceremony and other Inaugural events soon.”

The White House press corps had feared they would be restricted from Obama’s official swearing-in, which takes place in a small, private ceremony on years that January 20 falls on a Sunday. Inaugural committee officials had privately indicated to reporters that the event could be closed to reporters and cameras, with an official photograph supplied to press by White House photographer Pete Souza, sources told POLITICO. A subsequent email from the PIC referring to the Jan. 20 swearing-in as a “private” event rekindled that concern.

Well, gee, that’s good news — it is a historic occasion, after all. On a related note, Obama’s inaugural committee decided to ditch their erstwhile commitment to banning corporate donations for the inaugural festivities last week (because pretending like you still care about being the ‘people’s president’ is so last cycle), and they’re now not only accepting unlimited contributions but soliciting large donations at that.

Fundraising for President Barack Obama’s second inauguration has kicked into high gear with organizers soliciting contributions up to $1 million. …

The top-tier donor package, dubbed “Washington,” which asks for $250,000 from individuals and $1 million from institutions provides numerous tickets for the inauguration, including two tickets to a benefactors reception, an invitation to the finance committee “Road Ahead” meeting, two tickets to the children’s concert, two tickets to the co-chairs reception, and four tickets to the candle light celebration. The highest level donors also receive two reserved bleacher sets for the Inaugural Parade and four tickets to the inaugural ball.

What a difference a reelection makes.