Time for reforming the country’s spy bureaucracy is running out.

Without the pressure of an election to hold political feet to the fire, Congress’ lame duck session, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 16, may be the end for a meaningful reform plan and the creation of a national intelligence director.

Negotiators from the House have been holding a bipartisan Senate bill hostage, refusing to back the specific reforms recommended by the Sept. 11 commission.

Under the Senate bill, which passed with 96 votes even during a sharply contested election season, the position of national intelligence director would be created. The job would consolidate power from among the different agencies that make up the United States intelligence community. The director would have significant budgetary and personnel authority and would be responsible for making sure various agencies are communicating effectively.

House Republicans want to keep more power for intelligence work centered in the Pentagon and have fought to include controversial provisions on immigration and civil liberties in the final bill.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who led the Senate’s bipartisan efforts to develop the legislation, is the chief negotiator with the reluctant House. President Bush says he supports the Collins’ legislation, but he hasn’t put significant pressure on House Republicans to fall in line. If he does not, reform could be doomed – and not just for this year.

Collins has been able to hold together an impressive coalition of senators from both parties and has remained resolute in negotiations. She has stood fast against demands to protect Pentagon fiefdoms that have failed the country in the past and against attempts to undermine civil liberties.

There is limited time left for a deal in Washington to create a new national intelligence director and enact meaningful reform. Collins told the New York Times over the weekend that the opportunity for reform is fragile. If legislation doesn’t pass this year, it might be a lost cause, she said.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who has blocked passage of the Senate bill, told the Associated Press that it’s time for the political games to end. He’s right. He should support Collins’ legislation.

The country’s intelligence system failed before Sept. 11, 2001. And it failed before the invasion of Iraq.

Now is the time for action, not after the next failure.