The Missouri Senate has given approval to a bill to prevent lawmakers from becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office.
Senators voted 32-2 Monday in favor of Majority Leader Ron Richard's ethics bill, which would increase reporting requirements for lobbyist spending and set a two-year cooling-off period before legislators can lobby.
Republican Sen. Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph criticized the bill because it will apply only to lawmakers who begin their terms in January 2017, exempting current lawmakers.
Bolivar Republican Sen. Mike Parson said "it's nobody business" what he does after he leaves office and voted against the measure.
The bill now heads to the House, where a committee approved ethics legislation Monday that would create a one-year cooling off-period, effective immediately.
