In her first step as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi lead the passage of a measure banning lawmakers from accepting gifts, free trips, and discounted trips on private planes from lobbyists. The measure passed at a vote of 430-1, which means it was watered-down enough to get support from even the most corrupt of politicians.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer disagrees with my cynicism, stating that the vote amounted to “sweeping ethics reforms that begin to address some of the most egregious transgressions of the recent past.” For our sake I hope he’s right. The next two issues to be voted on are the PAYGO and earmarking plan.

A proposed law known as the “pay as you go” rule is being pushed to the top of the agenda of the Democratic-controlled House with little support from Republicans… Democratic budget hawks, especially the moderate-to-conservative “Blue Dogs,” say that restoring the rule is crucial to curbing the budget deficit. Various forms of PAYGO were in place from 1990-2002, however, and Congress often found ways around it.

The version up for a vote Friday can easily be waived. Still, the incoming chairman of the Budget Committee, John Spratt Jr., D-S.C., touted it as better than the status quo. “You’ve got to offset those tax cuts,” Spratt said. “And if you want to enhance an entitlement, you’ve got to pay for it.”

Democrats are also putting forth a plan for the names of lawmakers to be attached to any spending bill for projects in their homestate. The disclosure is hoped to prevent congressmen from engaging in trading these “earmarks” for bribes or other favors. Last year, former California GOP congressman, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, pleaded guilty to corruption charges for channeling earmarks to defense contractors in exchange for $2.4 million in bribes. One Republican foe of earmarks, Jeff Flake, praised the Democrats for the proposed law though its reforms fall short of even his own proposal.

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h/t to truthdig