Senate panel OKs lobbying disclosure reforms

The U.S. Senate took a step on Thursday toward imposing new controls on lobbyists following a major lobbying scandal, but a key committee rejected the creation of a public integrity office to monitor Congress. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, by a vote of 16-1, sent to the full Senate a bill requiring lobbyists to disclose contributions to lawmakers and fund-raisers they host. Lobbyists would also have to file itemized expenditures for public officials' travel. [Even though the House Rules specifically state that "The source of the travel expenses may not be a registered lobbyist. " What gives? They won't even pass a law to make a law enforcible as a law if it makes them act ethically -- on a budget -- like the rest of us? Hey, I know, it's H A R D...]