Well, well. The party that took control in 2006 claiming they would have the "most ethical Congress ever" has decided that this ethics stuff is fine, if you don't take it too seriously that is.

The effort to "re-loosen" the rules is being led by the Congressional Black Caucus, although some members of both parties seem to be sympathetic.

Via Politico:

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have led the charge, airing complaints about the aggressive, independent panel in a private session with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last month, and they’ve drafted a resolution that, if approved, would severely curtail the panel’s power.

But there’s hot competition between the CBC and the official House ethics committee over who has less regard for the Office of Congressional Ethics, also known as the OCE. And the rest of the House doesn’t appear to be far behind in its disdain. Privately, Democratic and Republican lawmakers, and even some congressional leaders, acknowledge that there’s a strong sentiment to change rules that empower the office to publicize investigations and wreak havoc on lawmakers’ political lives. ...

Like the inevitability of water finding its way downhill, government is always looking for new ways to expand its regulatory power over the lives of its citizens. On serendipitous occasions it manages to do so while simultaneously preventing others from impeding future expansions of power.

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