Senate approves insider-trading bill (96-3)

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13. More from the Wash Post: Minor Senate bill transformed into broad reform package

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/minor-senate-bill-sparks-major-debate-on-ethics/2012/02/01/gIQAsW9kkQ_singlePage.html

During an afternoon of rapid-fire votes Thursday, the Senate extended the insider-trading restrictions to senior members of the executive branch. The legislation now requires lawmakers and senior executive branch officials, for the first time, to reveal all mortgage information on their primary residence. On a unanimous voice vote, the Senate approved a prohibition on bonuses to senior executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, following reports that the two mortgage giants had approved nearly $13 million in bonuses to 10 executives.

In addition, members of the so-called political intelligence industry — insiders who try to learn in advance the outcome of legislation for hedge fund and investment house clients, who then place their stock bets based on that information — would now be required to disclose their activities just as lobbyists trying to influence the outcome must.