Despite President Obama's tough rules designed to limit lobbyist influence on the White House, the new administration has a "growing and thriving relationship with K Street," Roll Call reports.

According to top Democratic lobbyists who asked not to be  named, Obama aides are relying on K Street's talents to help pass legislation - although the relationships don't appear to violate promises that Obama made to curtail influence peddling.

Moreover, presidential aides don't appear to harbor their earlier worries about dealing with lobbyists. One source told the paper that Democratic lobbyists "have impressed on the White House that they are reliable party members - unlike some of the businesses and trade groups that the White House must enlist to help pass its agenda - who know the stakeholders and the system in Washington, D.C."

"I don't think they talk to lobbyists as much as other administrations," one top Democratic practitioner told Roll Call. "But as time has gone on, they've figured out it is important to talk to stakeholders."

Read the full story at www.rollcall.com