We need an empowered, strong, funded Inspector General
Inspector General's have played a vital role
The federal government’s use of Inspector Generals is sacred. Some of the most compelling exposure of tough issues–through whistleblowers and much more–come from IG deep dives and reports. Ds and Rs rely upon them in the military and many other sectors where it’s tough to get access to real deal internal information. Then Senator Harry Truman worked with the IGs of the military in his investigation of WWI corruption. Their success (and some genuine failures) are legendary.
We need an Inspector General in state government. The state auditor plays a role but it’s limited. We need an IG that has a deep sense of ownership of finding compelling ways not only to spend money well tactically (more of an audit function), but to look systemically and structurally at design issues around performance.
It’s time.
Is Washington State’s elected State Auditor institutionally/structurally unable to become IG-like? I don’t know.
I do know that the USDOT IG was crucial in stopping Sound Transit in 2001 from building the Capitol Hill light rail subway tunnel before it had the money and know-how to do so.