U. S. House OVERWHELMINGLY passes ethics reform bill.

The U. S. House has OVERWHELMINGLY, by a vote of 411-8, passed an ethics bill designed to CLEAN up Congress. The Bill, S1, has different titles. Title 1, the LEGISLATIVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007; and, title 2, the LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007 will, among other things:

— Prohibit lobbyists and their clients from giving gifts, including meals and tickets, to senators and their staffs. The House adopted a gift ban in January.

— Require senators and candidates for the Senate or White House to pay charter rates for trips on private planes. House candidates would be barred from accepting trips on private planes.

— Require lobbyists to disclose payments they make to presidential libraries, inaugural committees or organizations controlled by or named for members of Congress.

— Bar lawmakers from attending large parties given in their honor by lobbyists at national political conventions.

— Bar lawmakers and their aides from trying to influence hiring decisions by lobbying firms and others in exchange for political access.

— Deny retirement benefits to members of Congress convicted of bribery, perjury or similar crimes.

The bill, which now makes its way to the Senate -- where Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has suggested he will hold it up! -- appears to have REAL TEETH, as it increases fines for willful violations from the current $50,000 to $200,000, and adds a new criminal penalty of up to five years in prison for lobbyists who "knowingly and corruptly" violate the yet to be established law. But it is not perfect and should be considered a welcomed first step, though the Senate can now make it tougher, at least as far as sun shinning earmarks or "pork barrel spending" is concerned!