Burton just doesn't get it (01/11/07)

The flurry of ethics rule-making in the House of Representatives this month will take awhile to sort out.

At this point, it looks pretty good as far as it goes. But it's safe to say it doesn't go far enough and that too many loopholes remain.

Just the same, it's a start and a refreshing change from the era of Abramoff and influence peddling.

Most folks elected or re-elected last November seem to have gotten the message that voters want Congress to operate differently.

Most folks, but not Indiana's Dan Burton.

Burton, longtime Republican representative from the 5th District, cast the only vote against the expanded ethics rules last week. That's right, the new rules were approved 430-1.

Burton insists that his opposition was because the new rules aren't perfect. That might be a convincing argument if the congressman had any record as a proponent of stronger reforms.

Instead, Burton's record over the years is one of trying to water down the rules on what sorts of expense-paid trips members of Congress can receive.

This is also a guy who, according to a recent report in The Journal Gazette, accepted a week-long honeymoon trip to Taiwan last year from the Republic of China-U.S.A. Business Council that carried a pricetag of almost $17,000.

In other words, this is one lawmaker who hasn't gotten the message. The sooner Indiana voters put him out to pasture the better. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]