Anti-corruption bill stuck in Congress

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- Legislation that would give the U.S. Justice Department new influence to pursue lawmaker misconduct is unlikely to be passed this year, supporters say.

A year after a bipartisan group of senators made its recommendation, the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act is apparently blocked in Congress, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, would seek to reduce gifts lobbyists and companies give congressional members by making it a felony for lawmakers to accept gifts valued above those allowed by Senate rules. The Justice Department supports the bill.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Leahy is chairman, approved the bill last year, but objections raised by some panel members and other senators make it unlikely the full Senate will consider the measure before the end of the year, the Times said. The U.S. House of Representatives has no companion legislation.

Supporters said the legislation could cover items such as mortgage breaks that some congressional members and administration employees reportedly received recently, the Times said.

Critics said the Justice Department has enough tools to pursue allegations of corruption, and could bar such items as jerseys championship sports teams often present their representatives.