"What makes people think that six people chosen at random would have more ethics, more intelligence, more judgment than we have?" asked Rep. Louise Slaughter (D., N.Y.) during a House committee meeting.

Let us count the ways, congresswoman.

1. Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R., Calif.), who pleaded guilty in November 2005 to bribery and tax-evasion charges.

2. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R., Texas), facing trial on a money-laundering charge.

3. Rep. John Doolittle (R., Calif.), under federal investigation for his relationship to jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

4. Rep. Tom Feeney (R., Fla.), also being investigated by the FBI for his dealings with Abramoff.

5. Rep. William Jefferson (D., La.), who was indicted in June on 16 charges, including fraud, soliciting bribes and racketeering after federal agents found $90,000 in his freezer.

6. Former Rep. Bob Ney (R., Ohio), who's serving a prison term for accepting bribes from Abramoff and others.

7. Rep. Rick Renzi (R., Ariz.), indicted last month on 35 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and extortion.

Want to keep counting? Numbers eight through 12 are former congressional aides who pleaded guilty to crimes involving some of the cases listed above.

Slaughter's question came last week as House lawmakers in both parties balked, again, at a needed proposal to strengthen ethics enforcement in Congress. The measure would create an independent panel, made up of six non-lawmakers, to investigate complaints against members of Congress and their staffers.

The panel would be required to report its findings to the House ethics committee for further action, if necessary. This added scrutiny is needed because the ethics committee has shown that it is incapable of enforcing rules of conduct, even during the parade of scoundrels listed above. The independent panel would pressure the ethics committee to act.

The House tentatively is preparing to try again this week to approve the proposal. Lawmakers should relocate their spines and pass the measure.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) vowed when she took office in early 2007 that she would preside over a more ethical Congress. More than a year has passed without significant improvements in ethics enforcement. This proposal will go a long way to change that atmosphere for the better.