After today's House Ethics Committee deliberations, Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, said, "Well, I still think they're looking for their allegation that shows that there is bona fide violation of Rule 76. ... They're still empty-handed."

Asked what he hopes happens next, Hart said, "I'm hoping that I can get on with the legislation that I want to run in 2011," including a new version of his "sound money" bill and others. The new bill will be "a similar concept" to Hart's silver medallion bill from this year, he said, "although I don't have anything finalized yet. There will be some changes from last year's bill."