There is a new groundbreaking idea and edict from the State Ethics Commission – get ready – officials who use state aircraft must reimburse the state for any portion of the trip unrelated to “bona fide” public business. Imagine such a concept. Well, at least no one can accuse New York of setting the bar too high for public official’s fiduciary responsibility.

As reported by the New York Times on Friday (“Ethics Commission Tightens Rules on Officials’ Aircraft Use” – 8/17/07 - Metro, B1), the Ethics Commission issued its new rule in response to Andrew Cuomo’s report, from last month, regarding Joe Bruno’s travel at taxpayer expense.

While it’s nice that the Ethics Commission has finally decided to narrow the loophole – indeed, it was so big that you could have flown two C-130’s through it at the same time – it is troubling that Andrew Cuomo, good government groups and imagine this, the Senate Republicans have pointed out the deficiencies in the supposed remedy.

Yesterday, Congressional Democrats formally surrendered their hard-won initiative to George W. Bush. Take cover, for the fallout could hit anywhere.

Congress passed supplemental funding for the continued occupation of Iraq without any kind of provision for withdrawing our troops – ever. To their credit, most House Democrats voted against the bill. Most Senate Democrats, however, chose not to stand up and be counted; two-thirds of them voted to give Bush exactly what he wanted.

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders also surrendered the high ground on ethics, dramatically watering down a lobbying reform bill en route to final passage. Gone is the provision delaying the “revolving door” from working for Congress or the White House to lobbying Congress or the White House. Also gone are disclosure requirements for lobbyists who went through that revolving door.

Apparently, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have forgotten how they came to power.