Darrell Issa and government paralysis by investigation

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Well, America, you handed the House to the Republicans, even though you don't like them and they promised gridlock if they got in, and, well, you're in for it now:

California Rep. Darrell Issa is already eyeing a massive expansion of oversight for next year, including hundreds of hearings; creating new subcommittees; and launching fresh investigations into the bank bailout, the stimulus and, potentially, health care reform.

Issa told POLITICO in an interview that he wants each of his seven subcommittees to hold "one or two hearings each week."

"I want seven hearings a week times 40 weeks," Issa said.

Issa is also targeting some ambitious up-and-comers like Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio — all aggressive partisans — to chair some of his subcommittees.

He also wants to organize aggressive oversight beyond his committee and plans to refer inquiries to other House panels, drawing even more incoming GOP chairmen to the cause of investigating the executive branch.

This is what you wanted, right? Not responsible government focused on creating jobs and getting the economy moving again, but vindictive partisanship from a party utterly unwilling to work with the president and the Senate to get anything done.

Happy now?