Higher Aspirations

By Suzanne Kubota
Senior Internet Editor
FederalNewsRadio.com

With a Democrat headed for the White House, is Congress going to have a kinder, gentler Henry Waxman? Not if Republican Darrell Issa has his way.

“I’m hoping to… continue to remind him that the American people don’t just want to know about steroids and baseball,” Issa tells FederalNewsRadio. Issa is gathering support in a bid to become Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Governmental Affairs Committee.

At a higher level, while two wars and the economy will be in the forefront, the Californian is determined not to let other issues fall by the wayside.

For example, during the energy crisis, Issa says it seems that nearly every proposed solution was seen as long term, taking five or ten years or longer. “Fuel prices have gone back down,” says Issa. “This is when we need to say ‘how about those five and ten year solutions? If we work on them now, we won’t have the next crisis.'”

Democrat Gerry Connolly has been elected in Northern Virginia to the seat being vacated by Tom Davis. Issa says he would welcome Connolly to the committee as well. Since Connolly’s district has so many federal workers living, and voting in it, says Issa, “people who represent so much of the workforce need to be represented.”

House Republicans Davis, Dan Burton of Indiana and John Mica of Florida have written letters of support of Issa to the committee.

Asked if he’s a “slam dunk” for the Ranking membership, Issa laughs. “The one way to not be a slam dunk is to claim that you are!”

While he could point to many accomplishments while serving on the Hill, the jewel in the crown, says Issa, is the endorsement of Davis. “Tom Davis, having been such an exemplary chairman and then ranking member, goes a long way and I think that’s going to carry the day. Not necessarily because of all my work, but because of all his good work.”

—–
On the Web:

Tom Davis – Letter to the committee (pdf)

Burton and Mica – Letter to the committee (pdf)

Darrell Issa – Rep. Issa Seeks Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Membership (press release)

FederalNewsRadio – Rep.-elect Connolly knows his constituents

(Copyright 2008 by FederalNewsRadio.com. All Rights Reserved.)

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.