Turf battle: Issa vs. Frank?
Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 3:18 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Congress
From NBC’s Kristin Wilson
As the 110th Congress comes to a close, and members shift to new committee assignments, there may be confusion as to who has jurisdiction when it comes to the financial system, oversight of the mortgage crisis, and the growing recession.
Fortunately, Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, chairman of the Financial Services Committee, was more than happy to educate fellow congressman Darrell Issa of California -- who will be taking retiring Rep. Tom Davis' place as ranking member on the House Oversight Committee -- after Issa testified before his committee.
Noting Issa's complaint yesterday over an open microphone that he was worried the Oversight Committee was "getting screwed" by Financial Services, Frank said nothing could be further from the truth.
"The notion that somehow there was some machination on the part of myself or others to diminish the role of that committee is, A, wrong, and, B, completely ignores the history," he said.
In homage to the upcoming holiday, Frank attempted to allay Issa's fears.
"I've got people worried that this committee is plotting to take away their jurisdiction," he said. "I don't want to ruin anybody's Christmas by thinking I'm going to, Grinch-like, take away the jurisdiction of another committee, when I haven't done that."
When Issa attempted to convince Frank that the comments "taken properly" would constitute a compliment, Frank pounced.
"Well, I appreciate the compliment,” Frank said, “but I would shut off both the compliments and the mic the next time, if I was the gentleman from -- from California."
