Reuters: Senate panel OKs lobbying disclosure reforms

[PhilipShore]

Reuters
Senate panel OKs lobbying disclosure reforms
March 2, 2006

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/02/AR2006030201372.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate took a step on Thursday toward imposing new controls on lobbyists following a major lobbying scandal, but a key committee rejected the creation of a public integrity office to monitor Congress.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, by a vote of 16-1, sent to the full Senate a bill requiring lobbyists to disclose contributions to lawmakers and fund-raisers they host. Lobbyists would also have to file itemized expenditures for public officials' travel.

The issue has taken on new urgency with the lobbying scandal of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion stemming from a decade of Washington activity. He is now cooperating with prosecutors in a corruption probe that involves at least one member of Congress.

The bill, which would keep ex-lawmakers from lobbying Congress for two years instead of one, is expected to be debated on the Senate floor next week. It likely will be combined with another bill limiting lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers and discouraging special-interest provisions from being secretly inserted into legislation.

[ShockediSay]

1. Band aid on a severed artery; w/ a little perfume in a latrine .... n/t