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For Immediate Release
Contact: Jordan Libowitz,,jlibowitz@citizensforethics.org,.

CREW Again Asks Issa to Release Industry Response to Oversight Committee's Letters

Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa asking
that the committee immediately post all responses to letters he sent out
to companies, trade groups, and research organizations requesting
information on federal regulations that negatively impact the economy
and jobs. Chairman Issa had requested all responses by January 10th.

WASHINGTON

Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa asking
that the committee immediately post all responses to letters he sent out
to companies, trade groups, and research organizations requesting
information on federal regulations that negatively impact the economy
and jobs. Chairman Issa had requested all responses by January 10th.

On January 7th, CREW wrote to Chairman Issa
requesting that he post online his own letter as well as any responses
received. CREW received no written response, but committee spokesperson
Kurt Bardella, told The Hill the chairman "fully intends" to release the responses once he and his staff "have had the chance to analyze the suggestions."

Several press reports now indicate that the committee has received
some responses to its letters. For example, the Commodity Markets
Council sent a response on July 13th, the National Association of Manufacturers replied on January 7th, and the American Petroleum Institute responded before January 13th.
Further, at a House GOP retreat last week, Chairman Issa said he had
received a number of good leads from responses to the letters. No
responses to the letters are posted on the Oversight Committee's
website.

CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said, "Chairman Issa must do
more than offer lip-service to the notions of government transparency
and accountability." Sloan continued, "As the new Congress gets
underway, Americans deserve to know exactly which regulations may soon
be on the chopping block and who is asking for their repeal. Only then
can the public put proposed regulatory reforms in the proper context and
decide whether a congressional response is appropriate."

Click here to read CREW's letter to Chairman Issa (01/18/11).

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.