That was 14 years ago. From 2001-06 the GOP held both houses of Congress and the Presidency and could have easily enacted this, had they wanted to.
Now, Eric Cantor is holding insder trading legislation for Congress up.
As has been stated before, Republicans are just one wing of the Progressive Party. Nominating Gingrich will reinforce this fact. All of the Tea Party rhetoric will have been for naught. McCain pre-Tea Party, Gingrich post-Tea party.
We have not progressed one bit.