Issa Reveals His Hit List

Rep. Darrell Issa is coming out swinging: Congress’s new government oversight chief has placed WikiLeaks, FDA recalls, and much, much more on his long list of planned investigations, according to an outline of committee hearing topics obtained by Politico. Other matters on Issa's slate include corruption in Afghanistan; the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the foreclosure crisis; regulation's impact on job creation; and the inability of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to agree on the cause of the crisis.

Writing for Politico, Jake Sherman notes that Issa is "latching onto hot-button issues that could make his committee the center of attention in the opening months of the 112th Congress," and "laying down a marker of sorts, which could cement his panel as the go-to place for investigations." Hearings will likely begin by early February. (Click for more on Issa, who yesterday called Obama's administration "one of the most corrupt.")