Brody Mullins reports on lobbying in Washington.

It’s been a rough few years for lobbyists. They have been attacked by President Barack Obama. They have been targeted in corruption probes. And they have been hurt by the economy.

And many have decided they’re not going to take it anymore.

A record number of lobbyists have quit the business this year, according to a study released today.

About 1,400 lobbyists, or 8% of the industry, left in the three-month period ending June 30, according to a joint study of lobbying records by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics and OMB Watch. Typically, a few hundred lobbyists leave the business every quarter.

In all, there are still more than 11,000 lobbyists in Washington, according to records. That’s actually up 20% since 1998.

It’s impossible to know for sure the causes of the recent K Street retreat. But the study’s authors blame Obama’s new antilobbying rules. When Obama took office, he imposed a ban on registered lobbyists working in his administration. He has also barred lobbyists from lobbying the administration on certain topics.

As a result, it’s possible that many Democratic lobbyists have curtailed their lobbying activity in the hopes of landing a White House job down the road.

It’s also possible that there are just fewer lobbyists than there used to be because of the economy. When companies have to tighten their belts, they often cut down on the number of hired-guns in Washington.