Influence Alley

Industry trade associations are increasingly turning to the courts to protect member from what they see as a wave of regulations from the Obama administration.

It's a tide they've fought every step of the way for two years with heavy lobbying before Congress, the White House, the regulatory agencies -- even on the campaign trail with substantial campaign contributions to Republicans during the midterm elections.

Some regulations stem from the president's signature legislative initiatives -- the financial and health care overhauls that industry was unable to prevent from being enacted -- but others are issued by what business groups say are activist regulators. ...

Both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's National Chamber Litigation Center and the National Federation of Independent Business' Small Business Legal Center say they are suing the federal government more often under this administration.