Source: Ethics chairman concedes that G-O-P must reconsider rules

CAPITOL HILL There's word the chairman of the House ethics committee is having second thoughts about rules changes that the Republicans pushed through in January.A senior G-O-P aide says chairman Doc Hastings has privately conceded that his colleagues must vote again on the changes if they hope to break a deadlock that's virtually shut the panel down.

Hastings' conclusion may be unpopular with some Republicans. Since the changes were made in January, G-O-P lawmakers have had to defend themselves from accusations that they were seeking to protect Majority Leader Tom DeLay from further investigation.
Democrats have made it clear they won't break the deadlock on the evenly divided committee unless the rules are reversed.