Democrats spar over lead role on Oversight Committee

A battle is brewing for the Democratic leadership of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

On Tuesday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, threw his hat into the ring to serve as the committee's ranking member, challenging Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., the committee's current chairman, who announced last week that he also would seek the spot.

In a fiery letter to House colleagues, Kucinich, a liberal anti-war congressman who has twice run for president, vowed to challenge Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the panel's presumed chairman, "at every turn" and to fight against efforts that would "undermine the institution of the House through a lack of restraint in the use of subpoena power. We cannot simply stand by idly and hope that such a reckless approach to the use of the power of the chair will not happen, especially since it is not being promised but demonstrated by the person who will hold the gavel."

Issa, who has raised his profile as a reformer during the past two years as the committee's ranking member, is staying out of the intraparty scuffle. "We'll let the Democrats figure this one out," said Issa spokesman Kurt Bardella. Issa promised rigorous oversight of the Obama administration and recently announced plans for the committee and its various subcommittees to hold up to seven hearings per week.

Kucinich said he would have "zero tolerance for smears and innuendo" and would challenge unsubstantiated allegations pressed by Issa. Earlier this week, Kucinich sent a letter to Issa asking him to retract a statement in which he called stimulus funds "walking around money."

Kucinich said he would cooperate with Issa only when "he proceeds in an even-handed manner [that] demonstrates basic fairness and respect for due process."

Towns also promised to block any potential overreach by Issa, although in more measured tones.

"I will also work closely with my fellow committee Democrats to form a bulwark against any politically motivated investigations," he wrote in a letter to colleagues last week. "Any attempt to use this committee as a political weapon to tear down this administration is intolerable and I will use every tool at my disposal to ensure this does not occur."

It remains unclear if Kucinich, the fifth-highest ranking Democrat on the committee in terms of seniority, has the votes to secure the ranking member spot. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Elijah Cummings, D-Md., both rank higher than Kucinich and have indicated they will support Towns. Democrats are expected to vote for the leadership positions later this month.

On Wednesday, Towns said he was "confident" that he would be the committee's ranking member.

"Rep. Towns firmly believes that his record of accomplishments as chairman -- including a wide-ranging investigation into the federal bailout that resulted in recovering more than $400 million for taxpayers, comprehensive Recovery Act oversight … and improper payments legislation that President Obama signed into law -- make him the best candidate for this important position," said Towns' spokeswoman Jenny Rosenberg. "Just as he has done as chairman, he will lead committee Democrats in pursuing their common goals and agenda," she said.

Kucinich has carved out a career taking on unpopular causes, from the impeachment of George W. Bush to the abolition of all nuclear weapons. He plans to introduce a resolution this week calling for the administration to end the war in Afghanistan by the end of 2012.