Lobbyists

A federal judge said the government can stop lobbyists from serving on federal commissions. Six lobbyists had sought to overturn the Obama administration's ban so they could serve on industry-trade advisory boards. Judge Amy Berman Jackson dismissed their lawsuit against the Commerce Department. She said the lobbyists could not prove that the ban violated their First Amendment rights. In the ruling, she said serving on a federal advisory board is not the same as a tax exemption or unemployment benefits.