Unregistered knee-jerking in D.C.

District elected officials went rabid earlier this week when Rep. Darrell Issa, California Republican, indicated he would introduce legislation that would force the city to conduct more extensive background checks of political hires. They decried his planned action as congressional interference. But when Sen. James Webb, Virginia Democrat, sent Mayor Vincent C. Gray a letter complaining about arrests by police of his constituents, who it appears were violating a city law by driving vehicles with expired license plates, those same District officials snapped to attention.

Party affiliation has its privileges.