A surprising message of reason and practicality was heard from Congress last week. The absence of partisanship or pre-election propaganda was refreshing.

For some, though, it might raise suspicions. Such a message of sanity does not sound like a Congress with an approval rating of 16 percent.

Speaking Thursday in Washington, U.S. Rep. John Boehner, who as the leading Republican stands to be the new Speaker of the House if Republicans retake the lower chamber in the Nov. 2 election, promised to change the way the House is run.

Boehner said both parties are to blame for problems in Congress that have created a "state of emergency" because the House has become an institution "that does not function, does not deliberate and seems incapable of acting on the will of the people."

It's tempting to dismiss Boehner's comments as electioneering designed to attract independent-minded voters fed up with both parties. But while the earlier "Pledge to America" produced by Republicans in Congress lacked a sense of serious intent, Boehner's comments ring true and sound workable.

It is possible, just possible, that Boehner wants to reform the way the House operates to win respect of the American people for his party or even Congress as an institution. He might even be thinking of a legacy for himself as someone who put the American people ahead of partisan politics.

Boehner might realize that some changes, such as allowing the minority party to have more say in crafting legislation, could be helpful if, or when, the GOP is again the minority party, as it has been since the 2008 election.

Being election seasion, Democrats dismiss Boehner's plan, noting that he's been in Congress for decades and has played the partisan game without ever pushing for reforms.

Still, it's worth giving Boehner the benefit of the doubt when he promises to give rank-and-file members more power, instead of letting leadership operate with near-dictatorial power. He also promises that any new program created by Congress under his new program would require an equivalent cut in some other federal program, to stop the never-ending expansion of government — and the deficit spending that goes with it.

Boehner says the House must become more responsive, more transparent, and that partisan bickering must be scaled back, if not ended.

He even addressed mundane, but practical, issues such as the many proclamations made by House members declaring a National Fly a Kite Day or National Pierogi Appreciation Week. Such proclamations waste time, and Boehner says they should be done by special orders or in "one-minutes at the end of session," adding the changes are needed "so we're not sitting around naming post offices" during business hours.

Boehner also says he wants to open up the tight rules surrounding the debate of a bill so that more members can offer substantive amendments.

His plan also targets earmark abuses by both parties. It's another good idea, but getting either party to give up pork will be tough.

Ending earmarks and opening up the legislative process would strip some power from party leadership, and that might be another tough sell in a place where leadership power and perks are the objective of many lifelong careers and many larger-than-life egos.

Still, Boehner's speech is a hopeful sign that Congress will not continue to slide down the slope of dysfunction and partisan gamesmanship. Maybe he's just responding to extreme voter frustration, which is part of the energy behind the tea party movement. But maybe Boehner sincerely sees the need to change, for his own legacy, for the reputation of everyone in Congress and, most importantly, for the American people.

It might appear to be naive to be optimistic about anything being said by a party leader in Congress, but voters should remember Boehner's promise — and watch what he does if, or when, he becomes the new Speaker of the House.