The New York Times is reporting now that last-ditch efforts by a House/Senate conference committee to negotiate a final package on the bill to overhaul intelligence operations and implement reforms suggested by the 9/11 Commission have failed. Reports vary over what was the sticking point. At the very least, the demise of the bill means the demise of the Dreier amendment that would have placed the Secretary of Homeland Security above all federal law as well as a proposal to reduce required financial disclosures for senior-level national security appointees (thus making it more difficult to identify foxes in the henhouse and conflicts of interest).