The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in June that gratuities were different from bribes — or payments agreed to or made before an official act to influence the decision — and left states to prosecute gratuities. “Gratuities that change hands after the completion of an official action are bribes, plain and simple,” Merkley said in a statement. “This crooked and corrupt practice is a clear threat to the integrity of our democratic institutions and should be banned.” A skunk by any other name is still a skunk.