Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) yesterday offered a Solyndra-inspired amendment to a bill currently on the Senate floor, aiming to prevent government officials from having the power to grant loans to companies in which they or their spouse have an interest.

The "Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act" would prevent federal employees from using nonpublic information gained through their work for the government for personal benefit. Paul wants the legislation to expressly prohibit executive branch appointees or staff from holding positions that give them loan or grant-making abilities over industries or companies in which they or their spouse have a significant financial interest.

SPECIAL REPORT

Solyndra, a solar manufacturer that was given a $535 million loan guarantee and touted by the White House as a model for the clean energy economy, has filed for bankruptcy. E&E examines how it got there and what it means. Click here to read the report.

Paul said on the Senate floor that his bill was inspired by the continuing controversy over whether political influence played a role in the more than half-billion-dollar loan guarantee the Department of Energy awarded to the now-bankrupt solar energy company.

A statement from Paul's office specifically singled out Steven Spinner -- an Obama fundraiser and adviser for the loan guarantee program whose wife's law firm was representing Solyndra -- as a target of Paul's concern.

"I don't believe people who are multimillionaires and billionaires should use the apparatus of government as was used in the loans that were given to Solyndra by someone who is profiting off of their relationship and ties to the President, profiting off of people who used to work for these companies now, who are now employed in the administration and using these connections to get taxpayer money to go to private individuals," Paul said.

"This is wrong and this should stop," he added. "I think this bill is a great vehicle for discussing how people in government are abusing their roles in government to make more money at the expense of the taxpayer."

Paul's statement also singled out other relationships that demonstrate "corruption and its proximity to the current Administration."

Among those listed was Steve Westly, an Obama bundler and adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu who was also a major investor in Tesla Motors, which received a $465 million DOE loan.

No votes on the STOCK Act, or its amendments, were scheduled as of yesterday evening.