As he approaches the duties of speaker of the House, Representative John Boehner is generously asking one and all for ideas on “how we can make this institution function again.” Mr. Boehner did not mention dysfunction, but that’s apparently in the works, too, according to reports that he will likely dismantle the quasi-independent Office of Congressional Ethics.

Outraged taxpayers who voted against business as usual in Washington should be dumbfounded. Congress’s Tea Party newcomers should be the first to protect the office.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi created the agency in 2008, in the wake of the scandals featuring Jack Abramoff, the eventually imprisoned megalobbyist who had V.I.P. clout with the previous Republican majority.

The staff of nonpartisan professionals has worked hard to stiffen the spine of the House ethics committee. The office has issued more than a score of preliminary reports pointing to possible abuses and prodding the committee toward hearings on alleged violations by Representatives Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters. It has been what the public long needed  an alert to possible abuses traditionally buried under Congressional arrogance.