The House Republicans feel that they can push a “relatively tepid ethics bill” because they are not hearing about ethics from constituents, according to today’s Washington Post. Rep. David Hobson (R-OH) said, “We panicked, and we let the media get us panicked.” Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) believes that “the rhetoric of reform is just political.” Unfortunately for these lawmakers some historians see them misreading the public. L. Sandy Maisel, a professor of government at Colby College said, “When you combine [the ethics issue] with the general dissatisfaction with the way in which we are governed … I think the breaking point might be near.” As you can see from the posts here, the ethics issue cuts across party lines. What we need is a reform that balances out the crimes committed.