Republican Issa Insists On Increased Transparency Within Obama Administration

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

The Ranking Member on the House Oversight and Government and Reform Committee Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) called Monday on President Obama and the Democratically-controlled Congress to make government more transparent.

Issa spoke Monday at a discussion hosted by the organization Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption.

"My committee has been pushing for more transparency," he said. "We can not allow the government to create favorites."

Issa called for an investigation into how the organizations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been corrupted. According to a Judicial Watch report entitled "The Judicial Watch Verdict," the Treasury's decision to bailout Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has already cost taxpayers $86 billion.

Issa also called for an investigation into recent scandals involving the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), an organization he referred to as being "out of control."

The Congressman's remarks came less than one week after Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) locked Republicans out of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee room by having the locks changed on the doors. As of Monday afternoon, the doors to the room are still locked.