One of the great urban legends in lobbying regulation is the so-called “lobbyist shield” doctrine.  In-house government affairs employees often think that, as long as a registered lobbyist accompanies them to meetings with elected officials, they don’t have to register as lobbyists themselves and report their compensation, expenditures and activities.  In fact, that is rarely the case.  This week, California–one of the few states that permitted “ride along” lobbying–changed its law to prohibit it.

+ Ethics agency changes loophole allowing advocates to avoid registering as lobbyists | Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy