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“The Obama White House’s claim that David Simas, the director of its political office, is absolutely immune from testifying before Congress is a sweeping assertion that a federal court has already rejected. In Committee on the Judiciary v. Miers, a case brought by Congressional Democrats in 2008, a federal judge found that the idea of absolute immunity of a White House official from a Congressional subpoena was ‘unprecedented.’ Relying on Supreme Court authority, the Court held that ...

“The Clinton White House, Bush White House, and other administrations before them have all faced congressional oversight of political activity supported by taxpayer funds,” wrote Issa. “Under this Administration, like previous Administrations, members of President Obama’s cabinet have committed violations of the Hatch Act, which draws a line between campaign and official business.”

“The House has approved legislative reforms that will streamline government and help it work more effectively,” said Chairman Issa. “From allowing federal workers to prepare better for retirement to providing protections for whistleblowers, these measures will improve the efficiency and operations of the federal government, and I urge prompt Senate passage.”

“As a part of a settlement agreement with the [Office of Special Counsel], Ms. [April] Sands admitted to violating the Hatch Act by soliciting political contributions via Twitter, conducting political activity through her Twitter account, and participating in a political discussion ‘via webcam from an FEC conference room . . . while on duty,’” Issa and Jordan write in their letter. “The FEC [Office of Inspector General] sought to pursue criminal charges stemming from Ms. Sands’s ...

The report includes 15 proposals to address politicization of the IRS, including: ·         Replacing the IRS Commissioner with a multi-member, bipartisan commission ·         Removing the IRS as a regulator of political speech for social-welfare groups ·         Allowing taxpayers, and not the IRS, to control ...

“In response to your request, I am providing detailed background information regarding the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s outstanding Benghazi-related document requests to the Executive Branch, as well as the status of any Benghazi-related production and compliance issues,” wrote Issa to Gowdy. “To be precise, the Department has not provided a full and complete response to two subpoenas, nor has the Department provided all documents responsive to many written requests. ...

“In an effort to appease its political allies, the Obama Administration broadcast its intention to re-open a political office within the White House to assist in partisan election efforts and fundraising," said Chairman Issa. "This follows a serious pattern of behavior at the highest levels of the Administration. Former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, both members of President Obama’s cabinet, were faulted by the Office ...