Despite some GOP grumbling, the Senate on Thursday cleared for President Bush’s signature a major lobbying and ethics overhaul that Democrats made a centerpiece of their agenda after capturing control of Congress in November.

Final action came when the Senate voted 83-14 to concur in amendments to the bill (S 1) adopted by the House before it passed the bill July 31 by a vote of 411-8.

Earlier Thursday, the Senate agreed to limit debate on the bill by a vote of 80-17. Because the bill includes changes in Senate rules, a two-thirds vote of those present and voting (65 votes in this case) was required.

Sens. Norm Coleman, a Republican, and Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, were in Minnesota dealing with the aftermath of Wednesday’s devastating Minneapolis bridge collapse. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., was also absent, continuing his recovery from a December 2006 brain hemorrhage.

After a 2006 campaign in which Democrats repeatedly assailed the “culture of corruption” on Capitol Hill during a dozen years of GOP control, Democrats in both chambers made the ethics overhaul a top priority. To underscore its importance, the bill was designated S 1 in the Senate.

The Senate passed the legislation Jan. 18, soon after the 110th Congress convened, 96-2. The House passed its version (HR 2316) by a 396-22 vote May 24.