Senate rebuffs plan for independent ethics investigator

WASHINGTON — The Senate rejected a proposal to establish an independent office to investigate ethics complaints against its members and then cleared the way to pass a broad-based ethics and lobbying bill this week.

On a 67-30 vote, the Senate defeated a bipartisan proposal to create an office of public integrity, which its backers said was designed to strengthen enforcement of Senate rules and bolster voters' trust in Congress in the wake of the guilty plea in January of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Opponents of the integrity office argued that the Senate's Select Committee on Ethics was already policing complaints thoroughly and without bias and did not need an independent office to assist its investigations.

Senators condemn

breach at border

Senators said Tuesday the United States must act more quickly to strengthen security at U.S. entry points after the disclosure that undercover investigators breached security by slipping nuclear material into the United States.

"There are several gaps in our defense," Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said, opening a Senate Homeland Security subcommittee hearing on the matter. "These issues must be addressed with a sense of urgency."

In a test last year, the small amounts of cesium-137, which is used in industrial gauges, triggered radiation alarms in Texas and Washington state.

The material was enough to make two small "dirty bombs," officials said, yet U.S. Customs agents permitted the investigators to enter the United States after being tricked with counterfeit documents.

The Bush administration said Tuesday that within 30 days it will give U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents the tools they need to verify such documents.

to regain gun permit

Rep. Tom DeLay is fighting to regain his concealed-handgun permit after it was suspended because of his indictment on felony charges.

A justice of the peace in Richmond, Texas, suspended DeLay's license in January after the former majority leader was indicted last year.

A judge dismissed a conspiracy charge, but DeLay still faces a felony charge of money laundering.

Under state law, the Texas Department of Public Safety can suspend a handgun license if its holder has been charged with certain misdemeanors or higher.

DeLay, a vocal gun-rights proponent, has appealed the suspension and has asked for a new hearing after missing a Jan. 26 court date.

Steve Brittain, one of DeLay's Austin attorneys, filed the appeal March 14. A hearing date has not been set.

Steve Moninger, an attorney for the Department of Public Safety, which administers the handgun licensing law, said the state will contest the appeal.

Illinois legislator

to step down

Rep. Lane Evans, an Illinois Democrat who has battled Parkinson's disease for more than a decade, announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election.

The 12-term lawmaker, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1995, has not been able to attend congressional meetings or cast votes since Feb. 14, according to his office.

Evans' 17th congressional district — which encompasses Moline, Rock Island and parts of Springfield — is expected to be competitive in November.

In 2004, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry captured the district with 51 percent of the vote.

Compiled from The Washington Post and The Associated Press