(Updated at 5:09 PM to reflect DGA fundraising amount for first half of 2009)

The Democratic Governors Association is spurning federal lobbyists and their campaign donations at its $5,000-a-plate October 1 fundraiser in Washington, the latest Democratic political group to do so in exchange for getting President Obama to speak at their event.

In keeping with his 2008 campaign rule, when Obama refused to take donations from federal lobbyists and political action committees, the president has continued to tell groups that he won't speak at their fund raising events unless lobbyist and PAC money is banned. The restriction, however, doesn't cover state lobbyists.

State lobbyists will be able to give money and attend the DGA event, which is expected to raise about $500,000. The group has raised more than $8 million $11.6 million in the 2010 election cycle, according to the DGA.

"For Obama, clearly the distinction between influence by federal lobbyists and state lobbyists is significant to his agenda," said one ethics lawyer.

The DGA gets plenty of money from organizations that employ lobbyists including Eli Lilly, Novartis, Motorola and U.S. Cellular. Click here to see the donor list on Center for Responsive Politics.

"I don't know what the difference is between a state and federal lobbyist," said one K Street Democrat who has expressed ongoing frustration at being barred from attending events hosted by organizations he has given money to, but " I guess we are radioactive."