House overwhelmingly passes lobbying reform bill

The U. S House of Representatives, by a 411 to 8 vote Tuesday passed a bill called the biggest ethics reform bill since the Watergate era. The bill still faces hurdles in the Senate.
Unfortunately for Missouri, two of the eight "no" votes were cast by representatives from the Show-Me State, Democrats Lacy Clay and Emanuel Cleaver.
The rest of the Missouri delegation, including Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt, R-Strafford, and Fourth District Congressman Ike Skelton, D-Lexington, voted for the bill.
The bill calls for the following:

• Senators must disclose special spending projects called "earmarks" two days before a vote and must certify that they or their family members do not have a financial interest in the project. (The House adopted similar rules in January.)

• Lawmakers and their staff may not accept gifts from lobbyists and their clients (The House adopted a gift ban in January.)

• Senators, Senate candidates and presidential candidates must pay charter rates when traveling on private planes. House members and candidates may not accept travel on private planes.

• Lawmakers convicted of bribery, perjury or similar crimes lose their retirement benefits.
ª Senators must wait two years before lobbying Congress after leaving office. House members and senior congressional staff members must wait one year.

• Lawmakers may not attend parties in their honor sponsored by lobbyists during national political conventions.

• Lawmakers and their staff may not influence employment decisions in exchange for political access.

• Lawmakers must disclose lobbyists who raise at least $15,000 for them within six months by “bundling” campaign donations from several contributors.

• Lobbyists must file reports twice as often each year, and for the first time must file them to a publicly searchable database.

SOURCES: Senate majority leader's office, Associated Press
The Washington Post