DOVER, Del. (AP) - The state House has given final legislative approval to a bill prohibiting former members of the General Assembly from working as paid lobbyists for one year after leaving office.
The bill cleared the House on a 33-to-7 vote Thursday and now goes to Gov. Jack Markell for his signature.
Democratic Rep. John Kowalko of Newark has said his bill is aimed at improving government transparency by stopping the "revolving door" that turns lawmakers into lobbyists. Violating the law would be an unclassified misdemeanor.
The House passed the bill last year after narrowly defeating an amendment calling for a two-year waiting period instead of one year.
The Senate passed the bill last week but only after adding an amendment delaying the effective date from January 2015 to January 2017.
