The U.S. Senate today gave final Congressional approval to new ethics rules for federal lawmakers and more stringent controls on lobbyists and fundraising. The rules require more transparency of earmarked appropriations and set up higher hurdles for earmarks that lawmakers try to move late in the House/Senate conference committee negotiations. The new rules also clamp down on lobbyist fundraising for members of Congress, increase disclosure requirements for lobbyists and ban lawmakers from accepting gifts from lobbyists.
Joel Southern, APRN – Washington, D.C.
