By a nearly 2-to-1 margin, Steny Hoyer (D-MD) prevailed over Jack Murtha (D-PA) today in the race for House Majority Leader. The result was "a blow to incoming Speaker of the House" Nancy Pelosi, who endorsed and campaign for Murtha. Some in the House charged that Pelosi was "undercutting her pledge to clean up corruption by backing a veteran lawmaker who they say has repeatedly skirted ethical boundaries." Another round of news cycles featuring the infamous 1980 Ambscam sting tape with Murtha turning down $50,000 in cash "at this time" has been averted. And the House leadership can perhaps now more credibly pursue the transparency and ethics reforms promised in Pelosi's first 100 hours as Speaker.