Darrell Issa: “I yield myself such time as I may consume. I never thought I would hear former Chairman Waxman speak in terms of how…”

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. I never thought I would hear former Chairman Waxman speak in terms of how dysfunctional Congress is, how we just don't operate and can't be trusted; but, clearly, I heard him say that today. I still believe in the institution that all of us belong to. In living up to our responsibility, Congress has the responsibility to pass laws; and it has an absolute obligation to oversee the administration of those laws. The executive branch, or administrative branch, actually, only has the right to create regulations and executive orders to support the laws that have been created. For too long, we have abrogated our responsibility. Former Chairman Waxman apparently would like to continue doing that, in what he said of our low rating and essentially repeating it. Until the unemployment rate reaches 6 percent, taking back just less than 66 out of 3,000 regulations last year and making them accountable either to fall into emergency requirements into specific categories of essential harm or to come to Congress would seem to be a small task. I have no doubt that if the shoe were on the other foot and President Bush was still in office and the Democrats were still in charge, that this bill would look more favorable to them. But that's not what we should be here deciding, who it favors or disfavors. When this bill becomes law, it will, in fact, become law for the future for Democrats and Republican Members alike.…”