On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives passed a controversial lobbying reform bill Wednesday by a narrow vote of 217 to 213. The bill is coming under heavy criticism for failing to impose restrictions on lobby-funded gifts, meals, and discount flights on corporate jets. Lawmakers also struck amendments that would have created an independent ethics office and doubled the waiting period for lawmakers to become lobbyists. In an editorial, the Washington Post called the bill: “an insult to voters who the GOP apparently believes are dumb enough to be snookered by this feint.”