...
-Representative Bob Ney
:rofl:
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By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
Thu Apr 6, 7:43 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers could face loss of retirement benefits and jail if they commit crimes or violate rules on contacts with lobbyists under ethics legislation being put together in the House.
Even with the new penalties, Democrats said the Republican-crafted bill wouldn't go far enough to cleanse Congress of the scandals that have further eroded public confidence in legislators. They pushed for a ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists and a new independent office to oversee ethics issues.
Four House committees on Wednesday and Thursday approved sections of the bill in preparation for a vote by the full House when Congress returns later this month from a two-week Easter recess.
The Senate passed its version of the legislation last month, reacting with relative speed to the fallout from the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and the imprisonment of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., who confessed to taking bribes.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060406/ap_on_go_co/congress_ethics