Obey also would bar lawmakers-turned-lobbyists from using their floor privileges to buttonhole current members of Congress on behalf of a client during legislative sessions. Such conduct has long been frowned on as an abuse of the privilege, but is not forbidden.
The Senate may provide a more favorable climate for compromise. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.), who teamed up on campaign finance reform, are also interested in curbing access by lobbyists.
A spokeswoman for Dreier said the congressman wanted to strike a balance that would make it harder for lobbyists to woo lawmakers with hidden gifts and favors without infringing on the right of citizens to press their views on Congress.
Although Dreier offered no specifics, he told Fox News that he wanted "bold, strong reform initiatives" with "greater transparency" and would consult with members of both parties.
In a written statement released before he returned to Washington, Dreier noted that "recent developments have made clear the need for the House to take a closer look at the rules regarding members' interactions with lobbyists."
Abramoff is not the only lobbyist to plead guilty in the continuing federal investigation. A former DeLay aide who went to work for Abramoff, Michael P.S. Scanlon, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe public officials.
When House Republicans return to Washington at the end of the month, they are expected to find themselves in the midst of a heated campaign to elect a successor to DeLay. The majority leader is No. 2 in the House hierarchy and essentially functions as manager of the ruling party, making sure that the legislative agenda that the majority leader helped set is carried out.
In his interview with Fox News, DeLay said he had chosen to step aside because "time was the enemy."
"We needed to have a leadership race right now and have the elections sometime at the end of January ... so we can get to work in February and have our team in place," he said.
Boehner, 56, said in a letter to his GOP colleagues that he wanted to lead "a conversation about renewal ... renewal in spirit, renewal in principles, renewal in commitment."
"We've had a tough run recently, some of it of our own making," he wrote. "We're concerned about the future of our majority."
