1.   Barney Frank once said that Congressional ethics now are infinitely higher than they were in the past.

2.   Both are the subject of congressional ethics inquiries.

3.   Both Torricelli and Lazio say they have done nothing wrong, and there is no evidence either man did anything illegal, or violated any congressional ethics rules.

4.   Alabama Democrat Howell Heflin will retire from the Senate next year, and as his farewell gift he is promoting a novel idea to monitor congressional ethics.

5.   But some experts on congressional ethics laws said the House majority whip was walking a fine line.

6.   Congressional ethics forbid former lawmakers from lobbying old colleagues for one year after leaving office.

7.   Congressional ethics laws restrict lobbying by former members for a year, but Metzenbaum said he expects to appear before congressional committees after that period expires.

8.   Congressional ethics rules allow legislators to accept certain gifts from friends when they are of limited value and are promptly reported.

9.   However, Congressional ethics rules still bar honoraria, even though staffers can no longer be prosecuted for this practice.

10.   In their preface, the Tolchins said friends had two reactions when they said they were writing about congressional ethics.