I JUST GOT AN EMAIL claiming that Harold Ford, Jr. plans to vote against the earmark transparency rules change mentioned below. I just called his office and was told that he hasn’t made up his mind yet.

It seems like a no-brainer to me, and he certainly spoke in favor of transparency in the podcast interview we conducted a few months back.

UPDATE: Ed Frank emails: “CQ reporter Liriel Higa just repeated on C-Span that Harold Ford and Dennis Cardoza told her earlier today that they plan to vote against the earmark-reform package.”

That’s a big disappointment to me, and I suspect it’s a big campaign-issue opportunity for Bob Corker.

ANOTHER UPDATE: As it turned out, Ford voted for the rule change. I’m delighted to discover that, as I found it hard to reconcile his enthusiasm for transparency when we spoke with a “no” vote on this measure.