WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) released the following statement on President Obama’s address to a Joint Session of Congress this evening:

“Across the ideological spectrum, Republicans and Democrats alike recognize the need for what President Obama called an ‘unprecedented oversight effort’ to ensure that taxpayer dollars are accounted for and spent wisely.  At a time when the federal bureaucracy is being asked to absorb hundreds of billions of dollars, the effort to protect against waste, fraud and abuse must be met with determination and diligence by both Congress and the Obama Administration.  I have said time and again that the enemy isn’t the Democrats or the Republicans, but rather the bureaucracy itself.

“Congressional Republicans are eager to begin work on the ambitious agenda President Obama spoke of tonight, but the true test of bipartisanship will be contingent upon consultation with House Republicans, not just conversation.”