On her way to recapturing control of Congress in 2006, Nancy Pelosi introduced a measure co-sponsored by Senators Harry Reid and Barack Obama that she called a "Declaration of Independence from special interests." Ten months later, on election night, she renewed the vow, saying: "Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history."

How quickly the tune has changed. "Ethics" may have served as a populist rallying point for Democrats in the minority, but apparently "ethics" doesn't have much to do with governing in the majority. As the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call reported yesterday, Mrs. Pelosi has now enlisted Rep. Howard Berman "to consult with House Democrats on why they should continue to resist Republican demands for an ethics committee investigation" of senior Democrats tied to PMA Group, a defense lobbying firm embroiled in a corruption investigation.

PMA is now defunct since it was raided by the FBI last year, but top defense appropriator Rep. Jack Murtha, as well as several other Democrats, are reported to be implicated in an investigation of allegedly illegal campaign contributions in return for earmarks for PMA clients. Republicans, naturally, are relishing having the shoe on the other foot after their own disastrous involvement in the Jack Abramoff scandal. Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake has introduced seven resolutions calling for Congress to launch its own ethics probe -- and all seven have been tabled by the Democrats.

Texas Republican John Carter likewise sponsored a resolution two months ago asking that House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel step down until the Ethics committee completes its probe of alleged tax-related impropriety. Democrats killed that as well, even as the ethics committee report on the Rangel investigation is more than four months overdue.

But Democrats are clearly feeling some heat. Mr. Berman's appointment is seen as an attempt to show that Mrs. Pelosi and company take the concerns seriously while at the same time stalling any move against the members involved. Explained Roll Call: "After a long silence on the unfolding federal probe of the PMA Group and its ties to senior Democrats, House Democratic leaders are cobbling together a defense to offer political cover to their rank and file."