Posted on 09/24/2011 5:23:58 AM PDT by IbJensen
Republican Representative Darrell Issa has been portrayed by the media as being one of the more fiscally conservative members of the House. A recent revelation contradicts that portrayal, as it has been discovered that Issa has been trying to redirect federal money for green jobs in his own district in California.
In January of 2010, Issa sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu asking for his support on a federal loan for an electric car maker. The letter read, “Awarding this opportunity to Aptera Moters will greatly assist a leading developer of electric vehicles in my district.”
The letter surfaced after Issa was harshly critical of the Obama administration for its crony capitalism on behalf of two companies: Solyndra and Lightsquared. With Solyndra, there have been high-profile hearings on the $535 million federal loan guarantee to the California solar power company that declared bankruptcy last month. In the case of LightSquared, House Armed Services Committee Republicans are expressing support for an "aggressive investigation" into why the company received regulatory approvals from the FCC despite well-documented concerns that its planned satellite-terrestrial broadband network would interfere with GPS — including national security.
As the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Issa said of the White House’s relationship with Solyndra, “There’s been this attitude that somehow government can weigh in with loan guarantees and money and pick ... winners and losers."
Representative Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) called out Issa, however, after having learned of Issa’s 2010 letter. During a committee hearing in which Issa scrutinized whether green jobs have lived up to the promises made by the Obama administration, Cummings said, “Mr. Chairman, in terms of this loan program, it seems like you were for it before you were against it.”
Cummings later commented on Republicans in general:
They can't have it both ways — either they are for green energy jobs or they are not. It seems hypocritical to write letters in support of the program one day and then criticize it the next. The truth is the program works, which is why they want the money for their districts.
Issa’s spokesman later responded to the criticism:
Creating jobs in all sectors is a priority Chairman Issa and President Obama share — but they differ significantly on how to achieve it. Chairman Issa supports an all-of-the-above policy: creating jobs in green businesses as well as in other traditional sectors like energy production, manufacturing and small businesses. President Obama has focused on promoting green jobs even at the expense of jobs in other sectors through special deals like Solyndra.
Still, analysts cannot help but take note of Issa’s blatant hypocrisy, particularly because he has acquired a reputation as being one of Obama’s harshest and most vigilant critics and investigators in the matters of spending, fraud, and waste.
The "job" of the government is to get out of the way and let people and businesses create the jobs. Another way of saying this is that the "job" of government is to not create rules, regulations, and taxes which prevent job growth. The "job" of government is to not create fiat paper money that destroys profitability of people and businesses.
You, sir, are no Conservative! Look in the mirror, damnit, you are part of the problem!
When it comes to jobs, government has no job to do.
Should a National League manager refuse to play in the World Series simply because he's been outspoken about the stupid DH rule?
Of course not.
You play by the rules of the game, like 'em or not.
Not every “green job” is a sham
Just the ones promised by obama donors, so it seems
nevertheless Issa endorsed Romney....ho hum
Name some “green job” that aren’t a sham.
>>> I don’t believe that it’s hypocritical to play by the rules while working to change them. >>>
Unfortunately that kind of logic and reasoned gets flamed around here by the purists. Frankly, if Issa was constantly doing this kind of thing, it would be disturbing.
As I look at Issa’s whole body of work, I think conservatives should thank God he’s in congress. We, as conservatives, need to remember that our Founders started this whole experiment “in order to form a more perfect union.” They knew that all attempts to form a perfect union lead to serfdom.
Issa is “more perfect” than almost any other congressman from California.
the real news would have been if issa had a financial interest in the company.
since this lib didnt say it, I assume he didn’t.
whether we like it or not, the states have to play the hand they are dealt, otherwise all $$ will go to dem supporters.
the trick is to stay in the game long enough to change it.
Not many I agree.
But one example I can think of: there are some good common sense applications of solar panels - which allow people to “get off the grid” and get out from under nosy energy company snoopers and allow them to save a lot of money as well.
I would say that the job of installing those is not a sham, and of course the end game is to increase one’s independence and financial stability.
But they are few and far between. And most “green jobs” scams are actually about reducing our independence and stability.
and yes, if a govt official arranges zoning and tax breaks in his district for a company that produces “real” competitive goods and services and has a “real” track record of staying in business and a business plan for adapting to meet the market, that is part of his job
obamas green jobs on the other hand went to his political donors who threw together sham companies to milk stimulus money and gain tax write-offs. Even the drones at Energy Dept knew these companies were destined to FAIL.
I’m still wondering why the committee didn’t call the gov’t employees who attended those Solyndra board meetings. The gov’t employees can not take the 5th.
Solyndra isn’t about loans to the green industry. All types of government incentives are routinely granted to industry to facilitate job creation. Solyndra was about loaning half a billion to a company that had done nothing but lose half a billion in it’s first five years of existence and giving no indication it could be turned around. And then, subordinating that loan so that a wealthy 0zer0 donor and bundler could jump to the front of the line recovering his worthless investment at taxpayer’s expense.
>> whether we like it or not, the states have to play the hand they are dealt, otherwise all $$ will go to dem supporters.
the trick is to stay in the game long enough to change it. >>>
You make a particularly important point since the real goal behind almost every single Obama initiative is precisely to funnel our money to his supporters, and he’s done this more successfully and spectacularly than anyone in history.
Which is just more proof that the answer to almost every problem is to shrink government size and power. If we do that, then we by definition shrink corruption and moreover, we shrink the incentive for companies to be “connected.”
In the meantime, the game is hardball and we’ll lose if we are playing softball.
It was interesting to see the rat-faced congressrat from Californicate criticizing those who were asking questions of the disgraced crooks from Solyndra.
A playback of this grotesquely ugly DemocRAT pounding his gavel like the lunatic he is when questions were asked of his cronies and demanding ‘civility.’
Lord, help us, these leftists are too easy to hate!
A real conservative understands that if a company cannot raise enough capital in the private sector, there is a good reason, and that it is not up to government to provide that capital. Shame on him.
Issa is getting the Chicago Thug treatment. He needs to be supported all the way — he is very involved in exposing Obama’s Fast and Furious gun-running, and Obama and his Ilk are out to bring him down.
Whatever else he does is spit in the wind compared to that.
“It was interesting to see the rat-faced congressrat from Californicate criticizing those who were asking questions of the disgraced crooks from Solyndra.”
All rat-faced individuals, up to and including Mickey Mouse, Mighty Mouse, Jerry, Remy, even Ben, and, yes, even Willard himself would greatly resent having their looks being compared to those of the “congressrat from Californicate” to whom I think you refer.
I actually don’t disagree with that at all. And I’m not thrilled that Issa did this. I also think in the bigger scheme - and we all are impacted by the bigger scheme - he’s a net positive for what we believe.
This is why earmarks and lobbying department heads should be no-nos for Congresscritters. No one in Congress is pure as the driven snow.
The trap is the word “green”, which like much of our language that has been corrupted by the lefties is now really nothing more than propaganda based on a fallacy. Energy conservation jobs are worthwhile, and are created by the market. Golf carts are often electric vehicles, and they serve a purpose. Let’s all get right to the heart of the problem by asking the question “Is this a proper use of taxpayer money by the Federal Government?” My answer in this case would be NO. Actually, that would be my answer to most of our current federal spending.
I believe u answered your own question...
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