Gloves come off on Oversight panel as Dem calls for no 'silly' Obama probes
By Susan Crabtree - 01/18/11 05:35 PM ET
The gloves are coming off on the House committee that will be at the center of Republican attempts to investigate the Obama administration.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, took a jab at his Republican counterpart this week,
calling for serious investigations rather than probes that are “silly or absurd.”
Cummings made the remark in a letter to Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) on Monday spelling out his goals for the committee in the new Congress. He said the panel needs to hold the government accountable while also heeding President Obama's call to elevate political discourse in the wake of the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).
“I want to join you in conducting responsible oversight to ensure accountability in government and effective operation of our nation’s laws,” Cummings wrote. “I also agree with President Obama’s statement last week that ‘a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation.’ Together, I hope we can elevate the level of discourse not only on our Committee, but across the nation."
In the letter, Cummings also questions Issa's use of taxpayer funds for unofficial committee activities, which was reported in a New Yorker profile released this week. The article mentions a “highly organized” effort to manage Issa’s image, which aides refer to as “Issa Enterprises.” Another effort, which aides call “Oversight Productions,” refers to a series of YouTube videos Issa links to his Twitter account and official website.
more...
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/138597-gloves-come-off-on-oversight-as-dem-calls-for-no-silly-or-absurd-obama-probes
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