Outfoxed In the District

This isn't a knock against the ability of council members, although some are more able than others.

Truth is, the council is confronted with a nearly $10 billion government enterprise run by 32,000 career workers who constitute a $2 billion payroll. Without a powerful investigative arm of its own, the council is like a pussycat pitted against a python.

It's a sad day when the council must turn to outsiders to investigate a scandal in the D.C. tax office.

To meet its responsibilities under the Home Rule Act and to improve the accountability of city government, the council should have at its disposal the equivalent of Congress's independent, nonpartisan Government Accountability Office. The D.C. auditor's office is too small and limited in scope. The D.C. inspector general is administratively within the mayor's office, operates with a budget beyond the council's reach and basically sets its own agenda.

The council needs its own watchdog agency staffed with accountants, lawyers, policy analysts and program specialists to support aggressive legislative oversight.

Otherwise, prepare for more hand-wringing over government foul-ups as city bureaucrats continue doing whatever they please.

kingc@washpost.com