From CQ: (subscription required) The Senate Rules Committee and the Governmental Affairs Committee have both advanced bills on the topic (S 2349, S 2128). On Monday, members adopted by unanimous consent a GOP leadership-backed substitute amendment that combines the two bills for floor action. Trent Lott, R-Miss., is the point man ensured with ushering the legislation to passage. He has promised to achieve that goal within three days. Democratic leaders, however, are still considering how difficult they want to make Lott’s job. Democrats have a list of at least 17 amendments they want to offer. Among these, Barack Obama, D-Ill., plans to relaunch an effort to create an independent Office of Public Integrity within the legislative branch. The addition has support on both sides of the aisle, but was blocked in committee by Ethics Chairman George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, who said it would politicize his panel.