Bush gets ethics measure, still deciding whether to sign

Last update: August 2, 2007 - 8:24 PM

WASHINGTON - Congress on Thursday sent President Bush a bill aimed at reining in the influence of special interests, completing a long-debated overhaul of ethics and lobbying rules spurred by scandals that rocked Capitol Hill.

The measure grew out of a pledge by Democrats to "drain the swamp" after they won majorities in both congressional chambers in last fall's elections. It passed the Senate, 83-14, after clearing the House, 411-8, earlier this week. All the lawmakers opposing the measure were Republicans, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who said, "This bill does far too little to rein in wasteful spending."

Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar did not vote because they returned to Minnesota to attend to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

The legislation would ban lobbyist-paid gifts, limit privately funded travel and double to two years the "cooling off'" period that senators must wait after leaving Capitol Hill before they can lobby their former colleagues. For ex-House members, the waiting period remains one year.

The most heated debate over the bill concerned rules to shine a light on earmarking -- in which funding for pet projects have been quietly slipped into bills. The new measure would require public disclosure of the project and its sponsor. A spokeswoman for President Bush said he is still deciding whether to sign it.

HEALTH INSURANCE

The Senate moved slowly Thursday toward passage of legislation to add 3 million lower-income children to a popular health insurance program, in bipartisan defiance of President Bush's threatened veto. Democrats want to complete the measure in time for the start today of their summer break.

Bush says the Senate's $35 billion expansion would balloon the program, which expires Sept. 30. If passed, the Senate version would need to be reconciled with the House-passed $50 billion expansion.

TERROR SURVEILLENCE

Lawmakers are also trying to reach a compromise by today to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Congress is struggling over whether the government should have more power to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists. Democrats worry that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales would oversee the plan. The White House suggested that Gonzales share that power with National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell.

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