The new ethics and lobbying legislation will:
- Bar lawmakers from accepting gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists.
- Extend from one to two years the time a former member must wait before he can engage in lobbying activities.
- Deny pensions to lawmakers convicted of serious crimes.
- Require more reporting by lobbyists on their activities.
- Require public disclosure of those home-state projects.
- Require senators hitching rides on private jets to pay full charter rates rather than the current practice of paying the far cheaper equivalent of a first class ticket.
- Require reporting by lobbyists who obtain small donations from clients and then “bundle” them into larger contributions to politicians.
- Prevent spouses of sitting members from lobbying.
So, why did Senator Hatch vote against this bill?