Lobbyists group bites back against administration's advisory ban
American League of Lobbyists, Washington, is supporting the lawsuit filed by several lobbyists, most association-related, who were removed from advisory panels under rules set by the Obama administration.
The lawsuit, filed in September, was brought to light just this week. In 2009, the Obama administration set rules that disallowed registered lobbyists from serving on federal advisory panels. In their suit, the lobbyists seek to have the ban ruled unconstitutional.
According to the Hill newspaper, Erik Autor et al v. Rebecca Blank, U.S. Department of Commerce, Ron Kirk and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative involves four association lobbyists, as well as two lobbyists who represented associations on advisory boards. Five of the six were not kept on a government advisory panel after the ban was implemented.
ALL's position on the ban is two-fold, League president Howard Marlowe stated: "First, it applies only to registered lobbyists. Those who choose not to register - whether lawfully or otherwise - are judged exclusively on the expertise they bring to an advisory committee. Registered lobbyists, on the other hand, are judged solely on the fact that they have followed the spirit and the letter of the law that applies to professional advocates."
He added, "Second, and equally important, the ban deprives these advisory committees of individuals who are policy experts and who can contribute in a very positive way to improving the effectiveness of the federal government and its policies."
Marlowe said ALL is "examining our options to determine what further action ALL may take." Details: www.alldc.org.
