As you are likely aware, yesterday Rep. Randy ''Duke'' Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax charges and resigned from office. Cunningham admitted to taking $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to conspirators. He entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud, and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004. House Ethics rules say that any lawmaker convicted of a felony should no longer vote or participate in committee work. Cunningham's resignation means Republicans have one fewer vote in favor of the contentious and harmful budget and tax bills the House will be working on this month. That narrows the margin of support for the spending cuts bill to only one vote.