Issa selected leader of House Committee on Oversight and Government

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, was selected today by his fellow GOP colleagues to head the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Since 2005, Issa has served on the committee that investigates government waste and abuse and has been its ranking member the past two years.

"It's always easier to be careless with other people's money and the fact that Washington has somehow institutionalized waste, fraud and abuse is indicative of how broken this place has become,'' Issa said.

The Republicans election victory last month will give Issa subpoena power to try and force members of the Obama administration to appear before the committee, something he could not do when the Democrats were in charge of the House.

The committee is one of 17 in which chairmen were selected.

The other Southern California congressman named to a leadership position was Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, whose district runs from the Santa Clarita Valley in Los Angeles County east to the Antelope Valley and Death Valley. He will run the Armed Services Committee, long the domain of former Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-San Diego.