Quote of note:

"It is becoming obvious that there was a chronic disregard for the letter of the rules," a senior House Republican aide said. "The ethics committee could be looking at hundreds of cases."

Another official described the situation as "a circular firing squad," with each party in position to harm the other party's members. One GOP chairman called the current situation "mutually assured destruction."

Frankly, I'm as concerned about a chronic disregard for the spirit of the rules as well, but hey...

House GOP to Consider Tougher Lobbying Rules
By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 5, 2005; A10

House Republican leaders, hoping to head off a war of ethics charges that could leave both parties wounded, said yesterday that they will consider tightening the rules on lobbying and travel and possibly grant amnesty for minor violations in order to preclude hundreds of potential investigations.

A flurry of moves by the party's leaders, some behind the scenes and some before cameras, coincides with rising public scrutiny of the ethical practices of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and other lawmakers. Some Republican lawmakers and aides say privately that they are concerned that a possible voter backlash could hurt the majority party most.