Now that they have roared back into power, one of the first things the Democrats have done is introduce legislation in the House and Senate extending the life of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, reports the New York Times.

The audit office, which had issued reports casting serious doubts on the Bush administration's Reconstruction efforts in Iraq, was about to be abolished because of a little-known clause in a bill signed last month. At the time, I noted that the decision to execute the auditor raised at least four important questions about Iraq.

On the face of it, bringing the auditor to life again looks like we're finally seeing the restoration of some checks and balances.

But at the same time, endorsing an agency critical of the Bush administration, and keeping its biggest political problem in the public arena, does deliver political advantages to the Democrats. Particularly with the House bill seeking to widen the auditor's power.

Still, it's significant that the Senate bill has bipartisan support.