Dems plus LoBiondo back ethics panel

Just one Republican -- Rep. Frank LoBiondo of Millville -- joined the seven Democrats in New Jesey's House delegation this week in voting to create an independent Office of Congressional Ethics that could initiate investigations.

Five New Jersey Republicans, including Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen of Harding and Scott Garrett of Wantage, voted against the bill.

The ethics committee has been criticized for past inaction on allegations about lawmakers who later were charged and convicted for crimes.

"I agree our current system is broken," Garrett said. "Unfortunately, [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi failed to bring a bi-partisan solution to the table and chose to put forward a Commission that does not solve the current problems.  Instead, it would allow anonymous partisan complaints to clog the system and lead to increased mud-slinging."

The overall bill, H.Res. 1031, passed 229-182, with 196 Democrats and 33 Republicans supporting it.