House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa today released a new report following the Committee’s three year investigation into Countrywide Financial’s “Friends of Angelo” and “VIP Program” that issued discounted mortgages to influential Washington policy figures. The report finds that Countrywide used its VIP Program to aid its lobbying efforts as well as to strengthen its relationship with taxpayer backed Fannie Mae. Countrywide partnered with Fannie Mae in a strategic business alliance that also included joint lobbying efforts. Continue reading →

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress over his refusal to produce Operation Fast and Furious documents subpoenaed last October. The vote on H.Res. 711, making a finding of contempt, was approved by a vote of 255 to 67. Seventeen Democrats crossed party lines to join the majority in the finding of contempt against Attorney General Eric Holder. The House is also scheduled to vote later today on H.Res. 706, authorizing civil action in courts to compel production of subpoenaed documents. Continue reading →

Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) today released the following statements regarding a Department of Energy announcement that Abound Solar, Inc., would close and declare bankruptcy. The received $70 million in public funds on a loan guarantee of $400 million approved by the Obama Administration. This is the third firm that received a loan or guarantee from the Obama Administration to declare bankruptcy. Continue reading →

Chairman Darrell Issa statement on the U.S. Supreme Court decision on President Obama’s health care law: “This law will do great harm to our country by imposing new taxes, burying job creators in new red tape and saddling future generations with debt they can’t afford… I will work with my colleagues to achieve real solutions to America’s health care challenges that do not infringe on doctor patient relationships, impose unpopular mandates, and do not add to the nation’s already significant debt.” Continue reading →

Today the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee advanced several pieces of legislation to improve transparency of federal spending, accountability of federal employees, and federal job opportunities for veterans. Continue reading →

On a bipartisan voice vote the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee advanced H.R. 459, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Continue reading →

The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services, and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs will hold two hearings this week examining the implementation of portions of the JOBS Act to ensure the proper elimination of government barriers to small business capital formation and growth. The first hearing entitled, “The JOBS Act in Action: Overseeing Effective Implementation That Can Grow American Jobs” will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26th in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. Continue reading →

Issa & Jordan: “Taken together, these documents suggest that CARB was heavily invested and highly involved in the development of the nationwide heavy-duty standards. Indeed, it appears that CARB helped to initiate and then substantially dictated the discussions that culminated in national heavy-duty standards. It is not clear to the Committee, however, why CARB exercised such outsized influence in this process, with apparently more input into the development of the rule than other nonfederal entities.” Continue reading →

Chairman Darrell Issa statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling to affirm workers rights to object when unions notify workers of special assessments or fee increases. Continue reading →

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa issued the following statement on the Committee’s approval of a report finding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress over his refusal to produce documents related to Operation Fast and Furious. The Committee today approved the finding of contempt on a vote of 23 to 17. Continue reading →