WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate, responding to voter frustration with corruption and special interest influence in Washington, on Thursday overwhelmingly approved far-reaching ethics and lobbying reform legislation. Under the bill, passed 96-2, senators will give up gifts and free travel from lobbyists, pay more for travel on corporate jets and make themselves more accountable for the pet projects they insert into bills.
Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who made the bill his first initiative as head of the Senate, called it the "most significant legislation in ethics and lobbying reform we've had in the history of this country."
The Senate did reject the idea of setting up an independent office to investigate the ethical breaches of members. But it said that lobbyists can no longer hire the spouses of members or pay for lavish parties for members at national conventions.
