[JURIST] The US Senate voted 83-14 [roll call] in favor of a new ethics bill [S 230 text] that will require congressmen and other officials to make public additional information about money involving personal projects and lobbies. The legislation also bans gifts from lobbies to lawmakers, and requires former senators and House-members to wait two years and one year respectively before becoming a Congressional lobbyist. Democrats view the bill as a key portion of their 2006 campaign promise to end corruption in Washington, but some Republicans, including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) [official website], said that the bill did not go far enough in requiring full disclosure.

The US House of Representatives voted 411-8 in favor [JURIST report] of the House version of the bill last week. Under the new rules, members of Congress will have to disclose donations from lobbyists who "bundle" donations totaling over $15,000. AP has more.