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Ethics and lobbying reform: Pelosi, a former ethics committee member, is the sponsor of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act , which ostensibly would restrict representatives and their staff members from accepting trips taken with or paid for by lobbying groups. Civil fines would range from $100,000-$500,000 per offense, and criminal penalties for those who certify restricted travel "knowingly, wilfully, and corruptly" could serve up to 10 years in prison.

"We will cut the link between lobbyists and legislation," Pelosi said at a news conference last month. "I honestly believe that you cannot advance the people's agenda unless you drain the swamp that is Washington, D.C."

GRRRR, sounds as if Congress clearly is getting tough on itself! Worth noting: Who in one year took about 70 percent of privately funded congressional trips? Staffers, not Congress, according to Robert Brodsky at The Center for Public Integrity.

And as American League of Lobbyists president Paul Miller predicts according to the report, "many of the lawmakers who will vote to prohibit lobbyists from organizing or attending congressional trips will be knocking on their doors for campaign contributions next election season."

Say! I thought McCain fixed that?

"Why don't they ask each member to sign a pledge that they won't take [campaign] money from lobbyists?" Miller asked. "The whole thing is hypocritical."

Tonight, according to the AP via Toronto's Globe and Mail, Pelosi will be honored "at a $1,000-a-head concert hosted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at the National Building Museum with performances expected from Carole King and others."