Wednesday, January 14, 2009 5:57 PM

Towns Vows Vigorous Oversight Of Obama WH

By ELIZABETH NEWELL, Government Executive

The new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee outlined his priorities for the panel on Wednesday, vowing to keep a close eye on the incoming Democratic administration.

"I feel strongly, as does the new president-elect, that congressional oversight should not go away just because the administration and Congress are run by the same party," said Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., at a panel discussion hosted by FTI Consulting and the public affairs firm FD Dittus Communications. "Congress has a responsibility to the citizens of this nation to check on the executive branch regardless if it's a Republican or Democratic administration."

Constructive examination by Congress can expose small problems and offer solutions before those challenges grow into national catastrophes, Towns said. And in the current economic and political environment, "oversight is in order now more than ever," he said.

Towns' priorities for the committee include procurement issues -- such as preventing tax delinquent firms from receiving federal dollars and updating the past performance, suspension and debarment systems -- as well as investigating the need for and management of bailout and stimulus packages and ensuring the 2010 census counts demographic groups that are traditionally underreported.

While Towns can guide the committee's focus to some extent, he acknowledged that current events will dictate much of its work.

"The headlines in the papers, and of course the bloggers, will also help us determine what we get involved in," Towns said. "My goal for the committee is to move quickly and responsibly when events take place, especially when it could affect the safety of our citizens."

Towns said he has developed a friendship with new ranking member Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and believes they are equally committed to working in a bipartisan way for the success of the committee.

"I am convinced the American people are sick and tired of bickering and arguing and one-upmanship," Towns said. "If we can work together, eyes have not seen and ears have not heard what the oversight committee is going to accomplish. And I do believe we will."