Congress returns this week, with its approval ratings plummeting among constituents. Time is short for House Democrats to fully deliver on their campaign promise to turn around the “culture of corruption” in the Capitol. Progress was made in the January crackdown on free gifts, travel and meals from influence brokers. But now comes the hard part  facing up to the need for a new Congressional integrity office to help the moribund ethics committee enforce anticorruption rules.

The committee was a study in denial during the Jack Abramoff scandal, and clearly requires extra integrity muscle. But a task force charged with recommending how this could work is running into resistance from members after reports that it would call for allowing outsiders to file ethics complaints  raising fears of campaign-season smears.

While the issue is reported comatose, if not dead, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that she will pursue the subject. And the ingredients for a workable integrity office are hardly beyond reach.

What must not be jettisoned is the core requirement that the office have credible power to conduct thorough preliminary inquiries  including access to Congressional subpoena power  to do its job of making recommendations for further action by the ethics committee. There is no need to let outsiders file complaints if the integrity panel has enough power and discretion to initiate investigations.