Missouri lobbying ban

A federal appeals court has ruled against Missouri's two-year ban on lobbying by former lawmakers and legislative aides, declaring it unconstitutional under the First Amendment. The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the state failed to demonstrate a compelling interest in the ban, which was part of the 2018 Clean Missouri initiative aimed at reducing corruption. The court emphasized that merely having better relationships with current legislators does not imply corruption exists. The ruling allows former officials like Rocky Miller, who had been barred from lobbying after leaving office, to enter the lobbying field without restriction. The decision reverses a previous ruling that upheld the ban, indicating that such limitations on free speech must be narrowly tailored and justified. This development may lead to an influx of former lawmakers into lucrative lobbying positions, previously restricted by the ban.