Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times writes up the Feingold/Obama ethics reform proposal…

Obama, weaned off of subsidized corporate planes, urges colleagues to do same in Senate ethics push.

By Lynn Sweet
Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON — In symbol and substance, Senate Democrats are testing their new power, offering tougher ethics and lobbying rules as their first piece of legislation.

‘’At the end of the day, the Senate will pass the most sweeping reforms since Watergate,'’ predicted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday.

Reid was joined by Senate Democrats Barack Obama and Russ Feingold and eight Democratic freshmen sworn in last Thursday.

Reid sponsored S. 1, making the first bill an ethics and lobbying crackdown. The Senate starts debate on it today. It’s not as strong as the resolution the House passed last week, but Reid said he welcomed amendments to make it tougher.

‘’Hopefully I can support Senators Obama and Feingold and the freshmen on things they feel is important to do,'’ Reid said.

Obama and Feingold, in their ethics bill, call for the creation of an independent Office of Public Integrity; Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also plans to call for the same in a bill he will sponsor.

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