Lobbying reform fails in Senate

It was business as usual in the U. S. Senate Wednesday as ethics reform bit the dust in a squabble between the parties.
Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, Kentucky, are blocking a vote on the bill unless they can add an unrelated amendment which would give President Bush a line-item veto. An article in today's New York Times makes the following point, which should surprise no one:

It is an open secret that many members of Congress from both parties would be relieved to scuttle proposed changes in ethics rules. After all, the changes tend to limit the personal perks and political advantages of their positions.

Naturally, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, laid the blame on the Republicans for standing in the way of reform:

In an interview after the vote, Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev. and majority leader, said, "The Republicans killed ethics reform, period. There is no way to put frosting on this. This is as sour as any piece of legislation."