Judge Kills Lobbyist Attempt To Force Way On To Government Advisory Boards

Judge Kills Lobbyist Attempt To Force Way On To Government Advisory Boards
(addictinginfo.org)

In a blow against corporate power on Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled against six lobbyists who sued over the Obama Administration’s new rules on corporate lobbyists on advisory committees. These rules, put into place in 2009, prevent registered lobbyists from serving on industry trade advisory committees which advice the Commerce Department or U.S. Trade Representative. By so doing, the new rules prevent corporate or foreign influence over commerce and trade decisions, an issue which has become rampant over the past few decades as our manufacturing and trade strength has eroded.

Based from the original source here:
Judge backs lobbyist ban on gov't boards
(seattlepi.com)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's ban on federally registered lobbyists serving on government advisory boards.

The struggle for recovery has been hard, and much of that struggle has been to undo the years/decades of unfettered deregulation and relaxing of rules, such as permitting industry lobbyists sitting on government advisory boards.

Like the "Citizen's United" decision, the ban on 'federally registered lobbyists serving on government advisory boards' was attacked on the grounds of 'impeding free speech'. It's a cowardly attack designed to undermine real reform against corruption and influence peddling by lobbyists.

That's good. We need to keep the outsiders out.

For once, a good decision was made.

There should be a wall between public and private service. Either serve one or the other because you really cannot serve both.

Good decision...

It isn't enough. It's an actual step forward, but didn't the president promise to get rid of lobbyists all together?(Im not sure, I remember hearing that around primaries 2008)

reply to post by ubeenhad


Not 'altogether', but has taken significant steps to curtail their level of influence - like banning their appointment to government advisory boards - which industry lobbyists then sued the administration over on the grounds it limited their "first amendment rights". This judge UPHELD the Obama Admin. ban on lobbyists on these boards. While it's a small victory, it's still a victory.