Victory!

Republicans Abandon Ethics Changes
House Republican leaders Monday night abandoned proposals to loosen rules governing members' ethical conduct, as they yielded to pressure from rank-and-file lawmakers concerned that the party was sending the wrong message.

I was about to spam everyone with an urgent call to arms, to flood the US House with protests about its proposed ethics rule changes... but they've already backed down!

BUT:
Republicans voted to go ahead with another of their controversial ethics proposals and will ask the full House to approve a change that could curtail ethics committee investigations. Under the change, a Republican vote would be required before an inquiry can begin. The committee is evenly divided between the two parties, and under current rules a deadlock means an investigation begins automatically.

Interesting that the Republicans would vote before beginning an inquiry, and that they're still pushing for any changes in this direction. Shouldn't these law-and-order paragons of good moral values be pushing the other way? Oh, ethics isn't the same as morality, you say? Certainly not in their world view.

Note to mom: I have some pictures on the camera to download, so yes, you'll see the babes again soon!