The high-energy chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee calls himself “the House GOP’s chief watchdog.”
A former businessman with a mandate to investigate any aspect of government, he is preparing a blizzard of hearings on issues ranging from government regulations that stifle job creation to bailouts, food safety, the housing crisis, waste, fraud, and abuse. But he insists that he will not preside over a witch hunt.
Democrats opted for a new ranking member, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D) of Maryland, to lead the minority on the panel. Already, Representatives Issa and Cummings have clashed over minority powers. Issa pledges to “consult” Democrats before issuing subpoenas, but not necessarily to take the issue to a committee vote.
