Feisty Issa Spars with Committee Members over Procedures in First Oversight Hearing

ABC News ^ | 1/26/11 | Arlette Saenz

[Nachum]

After last night’s show of civility across party lines at the State of the Union, Rep. Darrell Issa’s first Oversight Committee hearing on bailouts and the foreclosure crisis started with a bout over procedure. At the start of the hearing, chairman Rep. Darrell Issa announced the committee members would waive their opening statements and instead would have seven days to place them into the record. Rep. Elijah Cummings, the committee’s ranking Democrat, immediately fought back questioning this deviation in traditional procedure, but Issa held his ground.

[Nachum]

Get yer popcorn! Gen-u-ine political popcorn... Comes in three sizes...

small "sound bite' size,
large bag 'committee hearing size' and..
massive drum, "State of the Union address size'...

[FrankR]

[Grut]

I hope you're just expressing yourself badly.

[TribalPrincess2U]

deviation in traditional procedure

Like that's a new tactic to the dimwits?

[JPG]

Rep Issa, I wish you good luck and good hunting!

[Dawgreg]

Hey Elijah! WE WON, YOU LOST! :)

[Hotlanta Mike]

[Liz]

Bi-partisanship, my Aunt Tilly.

The Tea Party will lacerate any Pubbie who even spits in Ohaha's direction.

[Qbert]

Now this is more like it!

[skimask]

Elections have consequences. If you guys what to go along with us your going to have to sit down and keep quiet.

[COBOL2Java]

Rep. Dennis Kucinich later interrupted and stated, “I’ve been in the Congress for 14 years, and I’ve never - it’s just unprecedented that the ranking member not be permitted to give an opening statement.”

Translation: how dare you not let us attempt to sugar-coat what these fine public servants may have to say before they say it!

---

When Cummings and Kucinich were given their opportunities to question the witnesses, they went after Issa for not inviting members of the industry to testify at the hearing.

Translation: Hey! How come we're talking to government employees, and not grilling the evil captains of industry, huh? S'matta, you don't like government people? You racist, or what???

[sniper63]

Dear Mr Cummings:

A Famous quote comes to mind........hmmmmmmm now how did that go again? Oh Yeah, "WE WON!"

Sincerely

Mr. Issa

[Sgt_Schultze]

I have always wanted a witness to pull out a newspaper and begin to read it and ignore the statements from members. It's rude and insulting to invite or compel a witness only to pontificate and bluster instead of taking the time to question the guest.

It brings me back to the last season of 24 when Jack was in front of a droning Senator who finally asked, "do you have a response?" Bauer replied, "I didn't hear a question."

[ExTexasRedhead]

IMO, Issa should dig their dirt with a bulldozer and teams of private investigators. Expose every DC skeleton and every shred of corruption.

[stephenjohnbanker]

AMEN, Liz!

[Wuli]

The opening statements of the committee members are ALL politics, all for the cameras and the media; not for achieving light on the subject. Good for Issa; let the committee get down to work sooner.

[Sequoyah101]

The Russkies have a saying for mr. cummings... toughsky s__tskey.

Talk to the hand elijah.

As for Congressman Issa, GO GET ‘EM!!!

[goat granny]

I watched a part of the committee meeting on Cspan last night, Issa stood his ground and told them, he alone had subpoena powers but he might confer with the minority head from time to time...Just like it was with Waxman..

The dems wanted a rule change that the chairman MUST have a democrat OK any subpoena's sent. That is the change they wanted.

In other words, they still wanted to be the head of the committee and not the repub. Issa. From what I watched, he told them in a nice diplomatic way, no way.. I am Chairman.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Tom McClintock, Congressman from Northern CA, was on Fox News last night exposing DeathCare. DeathCare will “NOT” reduce cost and We the People will “NOT” be able to keep our doctors!!! Spread the truth and call your Congressman’s office today regarding the RAT lies.