Howard P. “Buck” McKeon Tapped for House Republican National Security Working Group

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, was tapped today by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) to join a new National Security Working Group. Led by Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), the solutions group will take the lead in advocating and developing better solutions to the national security challenges facing America and hold the Administration accountable when it pursues misguided policies that make the American people less safe.

“The American people deserve and are demanding a stronger national defense,” opened McKeon. “While our citizens are skeptical of some of the decisions made by this Administration, they fundamentally want to trust the federal government to provide for the common defense. Our efforts, combined with those of Kevin McCarthy, will be focused on listening to the American people, including our brave troops and their families, and developing national security policies that are responsive to their needs and concerns.”

“Republicans joined in support with the President when he made responsible decisions, such as renewing the U.S. commitment to winning the war in Afghanistan. However, we opposed him when he made decisions that we believed could compromise our national security, including his efforts to import Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his terrorist cohorts into the United States,” continued McKeon.

“We are committed to providing our troops with the tools, time and support they need to do their jobs as safely as possible. This overarching goal will continue to drive our discussions and actions,” concluded the Ranking Member.

In addition to Rep. McKeon, the following members from the House Armed Services Committee were tapped as members of the National Security Working Group: Rep. Michael Conaway (R-Tex.), Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ari.), Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.). ###

News and Press Releases :: April 29, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lindsey Mask

U.S. Congressman Buck McKeon Washington, D.C. Office Congressman Howard P. Buck McKeon U.S. House of Representatives 2184 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 ph: (202) 225-1956 fax: (202) 226-0683

Darrell Issa Jim Jordan Call on General Motors to End ‘Shameful’ Ad Campaign VIDEO

Issa & Jordan Assail General Motors’ Deceitful Tactics. Thursday, Call on GM to End ‘Shameful’ Ad Campaign.

WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Domestic Policy Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-OH) today sent a scathing letter to General Motors (GM) Chairman and CEO Edward Whitacre assailing GM’s “slick marketing campaign” built around statements that “constitute a lie to the American people.”

“We are concerned that GM, under your leadership, has come dangerously close to committing fraud, and that you might have colluded with the United States Treasury to deceive the American public,” Issa and Jordan wrote. “Your false statements may expose GM to millions of dollars in damages, further reducing the value of the taxpayer-owned company. The American people, as the majority shareholders of GM, have a right to know the truth behind the cost of the GM bailout and GM’s genuine financial condition.”

In exchange for the $49.5 billion committed to GM through Treasury’s Automotive Industry Financing Program, Treasury received a 60.8 percent common equity stake in GM, $2.1 billion in preferred stock, and $7.1 billion in GM debt. Treasury put $17.4 billion of the $49.5 billion bailout in an escrow account, which required GM to obtain Treasury’s permission to draw down. On November 16, 2009, GM disclosed that it intended to use the taxpayer money in the escrow account to finish paying back the original $7.1 billion loan by June 30, 2010, drawing on the taxpayer money in the escrow account to pay back the taxpayer loan.

“Although the motives behind your recent decision to advance this timetable are not clear, some have speculated that these actions were taken to increase the political palatability of GM’s application to the Department of Energy for $10 billion in low interest loans to retool its plants to meet the government’s tougher new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards,” noted Issa and Jordan. “Regardless of your motive, however, the facts are clear: not one cent of your recent “repayment” came from GM’s operating revenue, and the American taxpayers are not one cent richer as a result.”

Issa and Jordan added, “Deceptive and dishonest advertisements and statements that attempt to disguise what is merely the exchange of one pool of taxpayer money for another pool of taxpayer money as “real progress” potentially expose GM to charges of fraud and further destroy the credibility of GM with the American public. These actions will inevitably hamper GM’s future ability to truly repay the taxpayer bailout. GM’s false advertisements are counterproductive and shameful, and they should stop.” ###

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 29 April 2010 12:36 B350A RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, DC 20515 PHONE: (202) 225-5074 FAX: (202) 225-3974