The critics said they could not muster enough GOP opposition because many Republicans were worried that voting against an ethics reform bill could come back to haunt them in the future.

“I can never try to rationalize somebody else’s decision, but clearly the fact that 22 are up for reelection may have an impact on it,” said Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.), one of the 14 Republicans to vote against the bill.

Five Republicans up for reelection in 2008 voted against the measure: Sens. James Inhofe (Okla.), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Larry Craig (Idaho). But those senators’ reelection hopes appear to be on safe grounds. The only presidential candidate to vote against the measure was Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a longtime critic of earmarks, who said the American people had been “deceived” by the bill.

Those strong words put Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), the Republican leader who is up for reelection in 2008, in a tough position. McConnell gave a speech criticizing several aspects of the bill, including the earmark reforms and what he said was a convoluted ban on gift-giving. Further, he questioned the rationale for forcing presidents to repay the government for using Air Force One for campaign travel at a charter rate. McConnell said that could amount to $400,000 per hour.

McConnell said that means the “end of presidential fundraisers outside Washington for Democrats and Republicans.”
Still, McConnell said the measure was an improvement over the status quo and voted for it, even though his deputy, Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.), voted against it because of the earmark language.