Call 'em out

Partisan dispute derails ethics reform

WASHINGTON - Democrats' hopes of starting off their control of the Senate with a far-reaching commitment to ethics reform received a painful jolt Wednesday, their ethics and lobbying legislation sidetracked by a dispute with Republicans.

Democrats failed to clear a crucial legislative hurdle when the Senate voted 51-46 to proceed with the bill that 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. Sixty-five votes were needed to advance the legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., left the door open for another vote on the issue Thursday afternoon, but getting the bill back on track would require resolution of what appeared to be an intractable dispute.

Dems have a bigger microphone now - call them out on it. Ask why the GOP, when they have been so corrupt think that it is smart politics to stop ethics reform?