WASHINGTON | House Democrats voted Wednesday to audit their own ethical review of U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky's disgraced former top campaign fundraiser.

A partisan-passed resolution directs the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to report on what actions it has taken "concerning any misconduct of Members and employees of the House in connection with activities of the PMA Group."

Visclosky and Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. -- top recipient of PMA's campaign cash -- were among the 270 votes supporting the resolution. All 134 of the dissenting votes came from Republicans.

The move pre-empted another attempt by Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., to file a resolution instructing the House ethics panel to investigate "the relationship between earmark requests already made by members (of the House) and the source and timing of past campaign contributions."

Flake expressed disappointment after Wednesday's vote because the resolution was referred to committee rather than passed, rendering it "meaningless."

"What we did today has the same effect as dropping a bill in the hopper. No further action is required," Flake said in a news release.

The resolution comes a day after news emerged that Visclosky's chief of staff Chuck Brimmer left his post, and the congressman yielded control over the House Energy and Water spending bill.

Visclosky has denied any wrongdoing with PMA -- whose offices the FBI raided in November -- but acknowledged his office has been subpoenaed in the federal investigation.

House members have debated for months the possibility of conducting an ethics probe into the now-defunct lobbying firm. Flake -- a staunch opponent of earmarks -- has seen his measure tabled, despite Visclosky's support. Murtha has opposed Flake's efforts.

"This is an inquiry of PMA. But if the committee on standards has any questions or requests, I will be as helpful as I can be," Visclosky said in March. "I have always conducted myself with the highest integrity and transparency."