Negotiators Back Stiffer Curbs on Lawmaker Gifts

Key congressional negotiators Thursday agreed to stringent new curbs on gifts to lawmakers from special interests, while Senate Republicans threatened to block other bills on President Clinton’s agenda, starting with campaign-finance rules.

Republicans were also threatening moves to repeal major provisions of the recently passed crime bill and to kill legislation to protect California deserts, prompting Democratic charges that they were seeking to deny Democrats any big legislative victories before the November congressional elections.

The gift legislation’s chief sponsors said they expected formal approval of the compromise from a House-Senate conference as early as today. They said they also expected final approval by the House and Senate but could not rule out GOP stalling tactics.

The new gift rules would ban members of Congress or their staffs from accepting free meals, entertainment, travel or other gifts from lobbyists, put a $20 limit on such favors from other special interests and end free trips to corporate-sponsored charity sporting events.