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Council will wait until Jan. to debate ethics bills

Four ethics bills were withdrawn yesterday as City Council postponed a hearing on them until Mayor-elect Michael Nutter and at least three new Council members take office in January.

Nutter said he had not asked for a postponement, but was happy to hear the news. "I would certainly love to weigh in on issues of further enhancement to our ethics code," he said after speaking at Drexel University.

As a councilman, Nutter wrote legislation allowing for the creation of a newly invigorated Philadelphia Board of Ethics. He also wrote a bill limiting campaign contributions from donors who want to remain eligible for city contracts. Both are now law.

The bills initially scheduled for a hearing yesterday had been introduced by Councilman Frank Rizzo. They would regulate lobbyists, ban outside employment of city employees, ban nepotism, and prohibit gifts to city officials.

- Marcia Gelbart