In the irony of ironies about coronavirus and our collective American lack of preparedness, Republicans who've beaten their chests for years about fiscal accountability and conservatism are suddenly apoplectic about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's announced creation of a select committee with subpoena powers to oversee the Trump administration's response to the pandemic and its management of the $2 trillion intended to rescue our people and economy.
"Where there's money there's also frequently mischief," Pelosi, D-California, said, noting that the bipartisan panel would be focused on rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.
Pelosi's announcement Thursday came after growing clashes between congressional Democrats and the Trump administration about oversight of the new rescue legislation - particularly over a $500 billion fund controlled by the Treasury Department. Trump has to appoint a new inspector general to oversee the fund but already has sought to limit the scope of that person's mandate under the law. Trump especially dislikes the proposed IG's ability to alert Congress if the executive branch is denying requests for information.
Imagine that.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, told reporters: "This seems really redundant," of Pelosi's committee, which she said would be modeled after the World War II-era panel run by then-Sen. Harry Truman, whose role in investigating the implementation of billions of dollars in defense contracts eventually led to his elevation to vice president.
But consider this one standout comment by Trump to reporters about accountability even as Congress and the Trump administration negotiated the rescue bill: "I'll be the oversight," Trump said.
Enough said.
Go, Speaker Pelosi, go.