Since my first term in Congress, I have been privileged to serve on two of the most important committees in the House of Representatives. In addition to my work on the House Armed Services Committee, I am a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Committee functions as a “watchdog”, with government-wide oversight jurisdiction, and assists Congress with an important constitutional role in overseeing the activities of the federal government. Its mission is to investigate and expose waste, fraud, and abuse within the government, and other areas of national concern.
by Congressman Mike Turner
Since my first term in Congress, I have been privileged to serve on two of the most important committees in the House of Representatives. In addition to my work on the House Armed Services Committee, I am a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Committee functions as a “watchdog”, with government-wide oversight jurisdiction, and assists Congress with an important constitutional role in overseeing the activities of the federal government. Its mission is to investigate and expose waste, fraud, and abuse within the government, and other areas of national concern.
In January 2007, the new House majority formally changed the name of the Government Reform Committee to include the word “Oversight”, as part of a campaign promise emphasizing their pledge to bring openness and accountability to the government. Likewise, in 2009, the Obama administration and the leadership in Congress promised openness and transparency in government. However, a recent meeting of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee took an unfortunate turn, leaving many observers with the impression that openness and accountability have taken a back seat to partisanship and politics.
For several months, Republicans on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee have pressed for a formal investigation into Countrywide Financial Corporation’s V.I.P. mortgage loan program. Former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo allegedly offered discount rates to participants in the so-called “Friends of Angelo” program, reaching out to Members of Congress of both parties in an attempt to use these relationships to influence public policy. Chairman Ed Towns (D-NY) has resisted efforts by Republican Committee members, led by Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA), to launch a full investigation, citing possible interference with a separate Countrywide probe by the U.S. Justice Department.
On October 15, 2009, Chairman Towns abruptly canceled a scheduled Committee meeting after learning that Republican members were prepared to force a vote to issue a subpoena to Countrywide (now owned by Bank of America) for documents and records related to the V.I.P. program. A video that was subsequently posted on YouTube showed Committee Democrats walking out of the hearing room through a back door, leaving Republicans without a quorum to conduct business. The Chairman responded to the video posting by ordering all of the locks changed on the Committee’s doors, in an apparent attempt to prevent Republican Members from meeting when Democrats are not present.
Since then, Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa met privately and reached an agreement on Friday, October 23, to issue a subpoena to Bank of America for documents and records related to Countrywide’s V.I.P. program. I am pleased that a bipartisan settlement was achieved. The American public has a right to know, and the Oversight Committee has a responsibility to determine, whether or not government policymakers received preferential treatment.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has a duty to investigate the full extent of Countrywide’s V.I.P. program, as well as the impact the company’s business practices have had on the current financial crisis. Far too often in Washington, partisanship prevails over partnership, and so it is no wonder people think that Congress is ineffective. Leaders on both sides of the aisle should put partisan politics aside and come together to solve problems on behalf of the American people.