DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN AND REGISTERED SOCIALIST: ELECTORATE WANTS US TO WORK TOGETHER

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) is not only a member of congress; he's also a registered member of the Democratic Socialists Caucus - one of 70 in 2009. Interestingly, he is making the claim that the message sent by the electorate during the 2010 midterm elections was that the American people want congress to work together. Uh, not so much Mr. Cummings. I found the fact that Cummings was the source of those words interesting because he is also the outgoing chairman of the House Oversight Committee, which is charged with investigating government corruption and waste.

Via Politico:

"Some people have gotten the wrong message about this election particularly the Republicans," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." "I think what the electorate was saying, they want us to work together. They want us to work with Republicans when we can, to try to make their lives better. They want government to work for them, not against them."

Cummings is giving up his chairmanship to Darrell Issa (R-CA) who has quite a full plate relative to a mounting number of investigations. Since Cummings didn't work with Issa when it came to investigating the Obama administration, perhaps he's saying here that he got the message that he needs to work with his Republican counterparts that make up the Oversight Committee.

Something tells me that he meant the exact opposite and wants Issa to throttle down to work with him. As evidence, CHECK OUT what Cummings is saying to those who want Issa to launch serious investigations. He's telling Issa to bring it on. To what degree Issa's actions as chairman match his rhetoric as ranking member remains to be seen but it does look like he's putting together quite a list of things to investigate, including Fannie Mae.

Via Politico:

Rep. Darrell Issa is aiming to launch investigations on everything from WikiLeaks to Fannie Mae to corruption in Afghanistan in the first few months of what promises to be a high profile chairmanship of the top oversight committee in Congress.

According to an outline of the committee’s hearing topics obtained by POLITICO, the House Oversight and Government Reform is also planning to investigate how regulation impacts job creation, the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the foreclosure crisis; recalls at the Food and Drug Administration and the failure of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to agree on the causes of the market meltdown.

This sweeping and specific hearing agenda shows that Issa (R-Calif.) plans to cut a wide swath as chairman, latching onto hot button issues that could make his committee the center of attention in the opening months of the 112th Congress. By grabbing such a wide portfolio – especially in national security matters – Issa is also laying down a marker of sorts, which could cement his panel as the go-to place for investigations.

Perhaps most galling on the part of Cummings is that he is using the word "austerity" to describe how the Oversight committee should conduct its business. When it comes to spending in practically every other area of government, Cummings is on board but when the committee's actions could do harm to the Obama administration, he wants to pull back the reigns?!

Mr. Issa better not back down. Tea Party will hold him to account if he doesn't.

Oh, HERE is that list of registered socialists in congress again. Note that Cummings is on it.

h/t Weasel Zippers