It looks like the House GOP has started to come to its senses on ethics:

House Republicans suddenly reversed course Monday, deciding to retain a tough standard for lawmaker discipline and reinstate a rule that would force Majority Leader Tom DeLay to step aside if indicted by a Texas grand jury.

The surprise dual decisions were made by Speaker Dennis Hastert and by DeLay who asked GOP colleagues to undo the extreme act of loyalty they handed him in November. Then, Republicans changed a party rule so DeLay could retain his leadership post if indicted by the grand jury in Austin that charged three of the Texas Republican's associates.

But they're not quite there yet.

Republicans voted to go ahead with another of their controversial ethics proposals and will ask the full House to approve a change that could curtail ethics committee investigations. Under the change, a Republican vote would be required before an inquiry can begin. The committee is evenly divided between the two parties, and under current rules a deadlock means an investigation begins automatically.

Honestly, I'd like nothing better than to be able to write a thoroughly positive post on this subject (as I did just the other day on the Bush administration's evolving response to the humanitarian crisis in South Asia). So, c'mon guys. You're so close to getting this one right. Don't let it slip away now.

(ABC News link via Kos.)