Minnesota U.S. Sen.-elect Amy Klobuchar said Monday she will refuse any privately paid trips, meals or gifts.
The pledge goes further than current Senate ethics rules require. Lawmakers are forbidden from taking lobbyist-sponsored trips, and all outside trips are "supposed to be educational or investigative in nature," according to the Center for Public Integrity.
Still, since 2000, lawmakers took more than $50 million in trips, including some to swanky and exotic locales, the center found. Klobuchar said she wants lawmakers to ban all such trips.