Republicans invoked a little blackmail to derail ethics reform in the senate yesterday. No ethics reform unless the Republicans get a line item veto. Can you imagine giving G.W. Bush the line item veto? Horrifying

The senates Republicans do not want an ethics bill. The corruption is just to sweet for them to let go. The reality, our Congress critters will continue to be wined, dined, and whisked off to lush vacations without any checks and balances or oversight. Yup, the Republicans like business as usual. A huge victory for K-Street and a tragic defeat for the American people and our supposed democratic government. You do not have an effective democracy when votes are for sale to the highest bidder.

Partisan dispute derails ethics reform

“I hope this is going to be just a bump in the road,” said Democratic Whip Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “We will give them another chance to think about this.”

The bill would have reduced the influence of lobbyists in shaping legislation and forced lawmakers to be more open about the pet projects they slip into legislation. On Wednesday, it failed to clear a legislative hurtle calling for 65 votes.

The Senate voted 51-46 after Republicans complained that Democrats blocked an amendment that would give the president the authority, with the approval of Congress, to single out individual spending items in legislation for elimination.