White House drops part of lobbyist ban

WASHINGTON — Lobbyists now have a place at some tables in the Obama administration.

The administration Tuesday dropped its blanket ban on federal lobbyists serving on advisory panels after losing a court battle on the issue earlier this year. Under the new rules, the ban no longer applies when federal lobbyists represent trade associations, unions, companies, state or local governments and other groups, such as environmental organizations.

Officials with the Office of Management and Budget say federal lobbyists still cannot serve on commissions solely as private citizens.

President Obama had ordered a broad prohibition on lobbyists serving in his administration as part of the ethics package he instituted during his first term. The measures were aimed at reducing undue special-interest influence on policy decisions.

Two years ago, several lobbyists who had been kicked off advisory panels challenged the ban in court, saying it violated their constitutional rights. This year, the administration lost an appellate court fight to have the case dismissed.

The rule change is a victory for the more than 11,000 people registered to lobby in Washington.

"This change vindicates the First Amendment rights of these individuals," said Charles Rothfield, the lawyer who represented the lobbyists who brought the case. He called the original ban "irrational" because it allowed a company to pick any staffer, but not its lobbyist, to serve on a board.

"You could designate anyone at all to speak for you, except for the lobbyist whose job it was to speak for you," he said.

Lobbyist Monte Ward, president of the Association of Government Relations Professionals, said the ban also "prevented the administration from taking advantage of the wealth of experience" industry lobbyists possess.

Hundreds of advisory boards operate in the federal government, ranging from panels that advise federal officials on international trade to those focused on the arts or medical ethics,

The rule change, reported earlier Tuesday by Politico, was criticized by at least one ethics watchdog. Craig Holman of Public Citizen argued that the administration should have kept the legal fight going.

"It's a complete retreat from what Obama had started four years ago," he said.

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