Lebanese American Congressman Darrell Issa Named Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Republican Member
(Councilman John Akouri, NFL Legend Lem Barney, Congressman Darrell Issa & Detroit Pistons Announcer Ken Calvert pose for a photo at a campaign event for Akouri in Bloomfield Hills, MI in 2002) (WASHINGTON, DC)...The House Republican Conference has voted to confirm U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) as the Ranking Republican Member for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) for the 111th Congress. Rep. Issa, who served as the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy received broad backing from his Republican OGR colleagues in seeking the position of Ranking Member. As Ranking Member, Issa will lead Republicans on the House’s chief investigative committee and will become "the chief GOP watchdog on the Obama administration." Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) is the chairman of the committee; Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, who retiried from Congress, was the ranking Republican previously.
“I look forward to leading committee Republicans and working with my Democratic colleagues in helping the new Administration of President Barack Obama root out waste, fraud, and abuse in the Federal government,” said Issa. "As Americans across the political spectrum want return on their tax dollars – oversight can and should be bipartisan. While objective and bipartisan hearings are a priority for Republicans, the minority will not tolerate inappropriately partisan hearings or investigations,” added Issa. We also stand ready to pro-actively probe any critical failures of government neglected by the Committee majority.”
Rep. Issa also announced key appointments to the panel's minority staff. Lawrence Brady will become minority staff director. He previously served as a senior policy adviser on the panel and staff director of the Energy and Resources Subcommittee that Issa chaired during 2005-06. John Cuaderes will be deputy staff director. He served the committee as a senior policy adviser during the last Congress. Jennifer Safavian will be chief counsel for oversight and investigations, continuing the role she has played since 2003. Charles Phillips will become chief counsel for policy after previously serving as senior counsel. Frederick Hill will move from Issa's office as press secretary to become communications director for the subcommittee, and Kurt Bardella will become press secretary. Bardella had worked for Rep. Brian Bilbray, (R-CA), and Senator Olympia Snowe, (R-ME). And in getting right to work, on the first day of the 111th Congress last week, Rep. Issa reintroduced five legislative measures addressing critical issues facing the people of California's 49th District including key water projects, border security, increased healthcare availability, and the economy. Rep. Issa also plans to introduce other key bills in the next few weeks of the new Congress.
“I look forward to leading committee Republicans and working with my Democratic colleagues in helping the new Administration of President Barack Obama root out waste, fraud, and abuse in the Federal government,” said Issa. "As Americans across the political spectrum want return on their tax dollars – oversight can and should be bipartisan. While objective and bipartisan hearings are a priority for Republicans, the minority will not tolerate inappropriately partisan hearings or investigations,” added Issa. We also stand ready to pro-actively probe any critical failures of government neglected by the Committee majority.”
Rep. Issa also announced key appointments to the panel's minority staff. Lawrence Brady will become minority staff director. He previously served as a senior policy adviser on the panel and staff director of the Energy and Resources Subcommittee that Issa chaired during 2005-06. John Cuaderes will be deputy staff director. He served the committee as a senior policy adviser during the last Congress. Jennifer Safavian will be chief counsel for oversight and investigations, continuing the role she has played since 2003. Charles Phillips will become chief counsel for policy after previously serving as senior counsel. Frederick Hill will move from Issa's office as press secretary to become communications director for the subcommittee, and Kurt Bardella will become press secretary. Bardella had worked for Rep. Brian Bilbray, (R-CA), and Senator Olympia Snowe, (R-ME). And in getting right to work, on the first day of the 111th Congress last week, Rep. Issa reintroduced five legislative measures addressing critical issues facing the people of California's 49th District including key water projects, border security, increased healthcare availability, and the economy. Rep. Issa also plans to introduce other key bills in the next few weeks of the new Congress.
posted by John Akouri Newsblog | 9:56:00 AM
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