The White House stepped back from a policy that prevented registered lobbyists from serving on federal advisory boards and government committees. In revised guidelines made available Tuesday, the Office of Management and Budget said the ban does not apply to lobbyists if they are appointed to a board expressly to provide the views of a nongovernmental entity—such as an association—or a state or local governments. However, lobbyists will still be barred from committee appointments requiring them to exercise "their own individual best judgment on behalf of the government." The ban was announced in 2010 and immediately came under heavy fire from groups that represent… Read More