You would think members of Congress would learn from the onslaught of public outrage generated last year when the nation first heard about wasteful boondoggles like the “Bridges to Nowhere” earmark for Alaska. But just when they seemed to have taken a step forward last week, we find out they also took a giant leap backward.

First, the good news. The House of Representatives adopted on a voice vote an amendment offered by Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., that limits official attendance at the overseas conference junkets so popular with federal civil servants. The Garrett measure says no more than 50 employees of the U.S. Department of Interior or the Environmental Protection Agency can attend such conferences at one time. The Senate still must approve the measure and President Bush must sign it for it to become law.