the former CEO of Edison International, John Bryson, was nominated today by President Obama to be the next Commerce Secretary. Bryson is a co-founder of the National Resources Defense Council, and was immediately blasted by Darrell Issa as a "green evangelist." Since green jobs have consistently been the lone bright spot in California's economy through the economic downturn, it's unclear why Issa feels that this is bad for business.
Just a month ago, hundreds of local residents came out to voice their concerns about the abysmal safety record at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Meanwhile, Darrell Issa is threatening the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with unrelated subpoenas while staying silent about nuclear safety. The most obvious explanation is that he's defending the interests of a major campaign contributor who is responsible for the safety and operation at San Onofre. With the lives of thousands of Issa's constituents at risk, even the appearance of bias in favor of his corporate backers is too much. It's high time that Darrell Issa -- the most powerful investigator in Washington -- stand up for the basic safety of his district.
Darrell Issa wasn't content to simply hold hearings to condemn disclosure of unlimited soft-money political donations by government contractors, the Chairman of the Oversight Committee actually introduced legislation to protect corporations from... oversight.
Ranking Committee Democrat Elijah Cummings threw down the gauntlet on Issa's pro-drilling rhetoric this week, reminding that it's the exact same line that Sarah Palin has been pushing for months. Tough to figure at this point whether being described as Palinesque is a compliment or an insult for Issa, since he certainly has been taking up many of her favorite causes.
It was a contentious day for the Oversight Committee, with high-profile testimony from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief Elizabeth Warren. And twice in two hearings, committee Republicans accused their witnesses of lying to Congress, under oath. It started with Issa suggesting that Secretary Hayes was lying (albeit without coming right out and making the accusation) and was followed later in the day when Rep. Patrick McHenry, presiding over a subcommittee hearing, didn't bother with equivocation and flat out accused Elizabeth Warren of lying under oath (video). As has become familiar territory with this Oversight Committee, both Issa and McHenry's positions have relatively little basis in reality, but align quite well with the interests of their contributors.
Darrell Issa took testimony this morning from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes, discussing the intersection of environmental protection and Issa's yen for major increases in oil drilling. After the hearing, Darrell Issa went on Twitter to announce that the hearing had confirmed exactly what he said it would yesterday on FoxNews and exactly what he said it would in his preview statement yesterday. Which left us wondering, what's the point? Would Issa do a single thing differently absent the theatre of his hearings? And if not, what is he doing?
Tomorrow, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson will be testifying for Issa about what Issa has termed suppression domestic oil and gas production. It won't be the first time that Darrell Issa has zeroed in on the EPA -- previously it was a hearing essentially claiming that clean air and clean water protections can't exist if we also want to create jobs.
We talk often about Darrell Issa's almost pathological commitment to defending and promoting the interests of rich corporations with his Oversight Committee, and we're under no illusions that he's going to give it up any time soon. After all, Issa knows where his bread is buttered and he's going to make sure his campaign contributors are happy. Yesterday, former Senator Russ Feingold laid into exactly that problem, identifying Darrell Issa specifically by name for his outrageous take on corporate contractor transparency
Perhaps more stark than it's ever been, the full potential danger of Glenn Beck with subpoena power is becoming clear. Even with the lives of his own constituents at risk, Darrell Issa is not yet swayed from his fixation on endless partisan attacks on the current administration.
Issa Watch on Hiatus Indefinitely
The Appearance of Impropriety in Darrell Issa’s Office
Issa responds to ethics problems with conspiracy theories
Issa’s requested DoE loan would have benefited major GOP donor
Issa sought funds via “easy way to end up with corruption in government”
Out of excuses, Issa contradicts himself in avoiding NewsCorp
October 2011
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posted by Lucas O’Connor at 2:39 pm