WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers would have to give up one of the perks of office -- free trips -- for the rest of the year under a proposed ethics overhaul prompted by a lobbying scandal that has roiled the Republican-led Congress. Drafted largely in response to the wide-ranging investigation involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the proposed ban drew quick fire on Wednesday both on and off Capitol Hill. A public watchdog group accused Republican leaders of merely seeking to get past the November election without any more reports of congressional junkets arranged by lobbyists seeking to influence legislation and paid...
