Ranking Member Waxman Calls on Chairman Issa for Accuracy in Solyndra Investigation Statements

  September 26, 2011

The Honorable Darrell Issa

Chairman

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

2157 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Issa:

I am writing to address comments you made about me in an appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal.   

You said, “There’s been this attitude that somehow government can weigh in with loan guarantees and money and pick winners, specific company winners, and losers.  We see that as a backdoor, easy way to end up with corruption in government because the people picking winners and losers, in this case Solyndra, include Henry Waxman.” 

You also stated, “In the case of the President’s people, in the case of Henry Waxman, you clearly had people who saw a link between their campaign contributions, their ideological bent, and these companies.”

I am writing to let you know that I had no involvement in the selection of the Solyndra loan.  In fact, the first time I met with representatives from Solyndra was in July 2011, when the company’s CEO, Brian Harrison, informed me – erroneously, it turned out – that the company’s prospects were bright. 

As a former chairman of the Oversight Committee, I know that the public pays attention to statements the chair makes.  That gives whoever occupies the chair of the Oversight Committee a special responsibility to be accurate.   

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman                                         

Ranking Member  

cc:        The Honorable Elijah Cummings       

            Ranking Member

            House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Related Documents: 

Letter to Chairman Issa from Rep. Henry A. Waxman (September 26, 2011).