When one is "converted," people look for changes in behavior that testify to a transformation of heart and mind.

The new House Democratic majority has announced its "conversion" on matters of institutional and individual ethics. Now comes the watching and waiting to measure the depth of their sincerity. Initial signs leave room for cautious optimism, or pessimism, depending on one's faith, in people who have created the problem to provide the solution. Liken it to how much trust one might place in an embezzler who is put in charge of bank security, or a serial liar who is asked to devise an honor code.

House Democrats touted their ethics reform package, which, among other things, requires lawmakers to attach their names to the "earmarks," also known as "pork," they slip into spending and tax measures. In addition, members would be required to reveal if they have any personal interest in the measure.

Suspicion as to whether Democrats, who have long engaged in bipartisan pork barrel spending with Republicans, are serious about going on the wasteful spending wagon were quickly raised when Charles Rangel (D-NY), the new chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said, "You have to assume that everything we have done is subject to a revisit. These things are not locked in cement."

The earmark legislation is also tied to the Democrats' proposed "pay as you go" rule that would keep the House from adding to the deficit with new tax cuts or entitlement spending without offsetting them with spending cuts or tax increases. Republicans see that as stealth tax hikes.

The New York Times reported that the earmark measure "could prevent the kind of corruption that led to several big scandals in recent years, including former Representative Randy Cunningham's sale of earmarks to government contractors for cash, gifts and campaign contributions." Not exactly.

According to Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), which has published a "Guide to Earmark Reform," "Projects such as digitization of Department of Defense manuals, which helped land former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham in jail, would not require sponsor identification because the funds were directed to DOD, not a specific company. In that situation, the company that eventually received funding for the project had bribed Cunningham." Continued...