I’m a skeptic on earmark reform, but this was a bit much even for me: “‘We are getting more authoritative,’ said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), an Appropriations Committee member who behind closed doors spoke vociferously against the lobbying bill, which he thought unfairly singled out [that committee]. ‘We are standing up for our turf.’” Inspiring, isn’t it? That’s why voters elected a Republican Congress: to get congressmen who would stand up for their turf.

Actually, it’s not an entirely dispiriting story. The appropriators are all crowing about their great victory, which was to get a reform applied to all spending committees and not just to their committee. So in this case, the appropriators’ win was ours, too.