Norman J. Ornstein testifies before the U.S.House Rules Committee on lobbying reform.

Congress ishappy that there"s no ethics process to hold people accountable.

How much longer will congressional scandals continue?

Export-related jobs are a huge and important driver of the U.S. economy, and the record of the Ex-Im Bank is clear: Using private funds and with minimal exposure to taxpayers, it has been a major driver of U.S. exports and a driver of jobs and corporate profits in the United States.

Political dysfunction. Partisanship at record levels. Attack politics run amok. And public approval of Congress scraping the single digits (Sen. John McCain is fond of saying it's down to blood rlatives and paid staff).

While Obama complained about "politicians" blocking comprehensive immigration bills, he was one of them himself. Some new approach is needed, and Obama did little to point the way. El Paso was all about election 2012, not serious immigration reform.

A lobbying battle is heating up over a health reform provision that would cap the amount of money that insurers can spend on administrative costs, and the stance that the administration is taking could undermine its efforts to implement every other element of its legislation.

We can"t police the pillow talk of public servants and their partners, but we can insist on full disclosure of familial relationships and limitations on lobbying contacts with relatives.