WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) released the following statement today in response to a letter from Neil Barofsky, Special Inspector General of TARP, responding to inquiries from Republican staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding SIGTARP’s position within Treasury:

“At a time when the Treasury and Federal Reserve are exercising unprecedented powers intervening in our economy, the independence of the SIGTARP is one of the few checks and balances that remain.  It is extremely troubling that in the midst of SIGTARP’s investigation into bonuses received by AIG executives, the Treasury Department would seek to exert control over this independent overseer.”