Ethics Reform Bill Sails Through Senate

The ethics reform bill, which tightens restrictions on congressional pet projects and lobbyist dealings, easily cleared the Senate today. The final vote was 83-14, with all of those opposed Republicans. Critics say the bill won't go far enough to curb earmark spending, the AP reports, but Dianne Feinstein praised the package as "the most sweeping reform bill since Watergate."

The legislation sailed through the House Tuesday, but President Bush remains dubious and has not decided whether he will sign it, spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said, pointing to what she described as "toothless provisions." "We're lying to the American people that we're fixing earmarks when we're not," Tom Coburn told Bloomberg. (More Dianne Feinstein stories.)