Ethics shift would restrict federal employee attendance at trade group events. Associations and lobbyists are criticizing an Obama administration proposal to restrict contact between executive branch employees and lobbyists. RELATED CONTENT Rule set on lobbyists serving on boards The Office of Government Ethics plans to eliminate an exception to the lobbyist gift ban that allows career executive branch employees to accept free invitations to widely attended events such as Capitol Hill receptions, conferences and trade shows held by registered lobbying groups. Under the new rule, government employees could only attend certain events if they paid for registration… Read More