Republicans Fight Dem Efforts to Punish Issa for IRS Hearing Actions

Photo Credit: APHouse Republicans are fending off aggressive efforts by Democrats to punish Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., for cutting off a Democratic congressman during a heated hearing on the IRS targeting scandal.

The House voted Thursday afternoon to block a resolution that would formally chastise the chairman of the House oversight committee for his conduct at Wednesday’s hearing.

The vote was along party lines, 211-186, with 10 members voting present. Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, had offered the resolution, which called Issa’s behavior “offensive and disrespectful.”

Fudge also penned a letter to House Speaker John Boehner urging the speaker to strip Issa of his chairmanship “immediately.”

“Congressman Darrell Issa of California abused his authority and therefore must be reprimanded to ensure the dignity of the House of Representatives is preserved,” Fudge wrote, calling him a “disgrace.”

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