House overwhelmingly approves Ethics Bill

Washington: In the most sweeping overhaul of congressional ethics rules since the Watergate era, the House overwhelmingly approved a Bill aimed at curbing the influence of lobbyists and repairing Congress' image.

Democrats promised to pass the measure after they won control of Congress following a campaign that denounced the Republican "culture of corruption" on Capitol Hill.

The Bill would impose new rules on lawmakers and lobbyists, requiring reports on the campaign cheques that lobbyists solicit from contributors and denying congressional pensions to lawmakers convicted of felonies. The Senate plans to approve an identical Bill this week and send it to President George W. Bush for his signature.

"If there was one message that was abundantly clear based on the results of last year's election, it was that the American people want us to end the culture of corruption that has enveloped the legislative process," said Representative John Conyers Jr, Democrat from Michigan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. "We've heard that message loud and clear."

The Bill's 411-8 approval comes after two former Republican lawmakers -- Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California and Representative Bob Ney of Ohio - and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff were sent to prison on corruption charges.

About a dozen current and former lawmakers have come under scrutiny. Just this week, federal agents involved in a public corruption investigation searched the Alaska home of Senator Ted Stevens, the chamber's longest-serving Republican. Stevens has denied any wrongdoing.