On today's overwhelming vote approving an ethics and lobbying reform plan, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), the No. 4 GOP leader, voted with the majority in passing legislation that imposes new prohibitions on the senatorial revolving door to K Street and requires greater disclosure for lobbying firms.

But the four other elected Republican leaders, including Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.), McConnell's top deputy, joined a small but boisterous conservative bloc of 14 Republicans opposing the measure. Lott and the conservatives, led by junior Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), believe the bill was not strong enough in requiring disclosure of earmark provisions in spending bills, particularly those measures dropped into bills during House-Senate conferences that are sent back to each chamber in a non-amendable fashion.