In Praise of Pelosi

This new House ethics panel was a long and tough fight, and it needs more teeth like subpoena power, but it's notable that finally, an independent board will be investigating and passing judgment on members of Congress, rather than the members themselves. This was a big issue for Nancy Pelosi, and she spent a year trying to get this through, with a lot of resistance from both sides of the aisle. Pelosi has actually been effective; lots of legislation has run aground in the Senate, but in general she's been able to get her agenda passed. Of course, the House is a majoritarian institution, making it easier. But Pelosi's achievement should not be discounted.

And anyone that can cause this response:

"If you have a single ounce of self-preservation, you'll vote no," implored Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) last night.

...is OK in my book.

UPDATE: Looks like John Boehner is going to cry and whine his way to the finish line on this one.

House Minority Leader John A. Boehner made clear Wednesday that he sees little likelihood of joining Speaker Nancy Pelosi anytime soon to name members of a new outside ethics board the House has reluctantly agreed to create.

“I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind would want to serve on this outside panel because of the fighting that’s going to occur, not by members but by partisan groups on both sides who are going to want to file frivolous complaints,’’ Boehner said Tuesday during floor debate over the proposal to create the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Boehner aides said they didn’t know how the leader would proceed in trying to work with Pelosi on a joint list of six appointees for a panel whose creation he bitterly opposed. Minority Whip Roy Blunt , R-Mo., said the decision on how to proceed belongs solely to Boehner, R-Ohio. “The leader is the person who has to make that decision. I’m going to let him make it,’’ Blunt said.

Nice profile in courage from Blunt there.