Darrell Issa

Issa, Hunter vote to give away federal lands

San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa joined with the House Majority in voting for a rules change would allow giveaway of federal lands to states, local governments, or tribes. Potentially, such giveaways could include national parks such as Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. It also encompasses all other public lands; here in San Diego these include Cleveland National Forest, federal recreation areas and…


Bunnygate: Hunter down rabbit hole, votes to abolish Office of Congressional Ethics

Quite the contrast this week between Rep. Darrell Issa, R-49th District, and Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-50th District, concerning the walk-back on House Republicans’ initial attempt behind closed doors to fill the swamp by way of demolition of the independent Office of Congressional Ethics. And Hunter’s press rep says a bunny rabbit is the reason why he voted to gut the independent committee that recently has investigated…


Congressional candidates spent almost $5 million on TV ads in San Diego

Local congressional candidates and their supporters bought more than $4.7 million in broadcast TV advertising in the general election, largely in the 49th District where incumbent Republican Darrell Issa squeaked past Democratic challenger Doug Applegate for another term. The Issa and Applegate camps bought a total of almost $3.7 million in ads on San Diego’s five major broadcast channels: CBS 8, ABC 10, NBC 7, Fox 5…


First Lady weighs in on San Diego elections

First Lady Michelle Obama is the star of new television and radio advertisements airing in San Diego. While she doesn’t mention a specific candidate or race, the ads appear aimed at getting out the vote against Rep. Darrell Issa and Rep. Duncan Hunter and ensuring that Rep. Scott Peters is reelected. The San Diego ad is being paid for by the California Democratic Party, and comes…


Issa on the ropes in once-safe 49th District

SOLANA BEACH, CA. — One by one, Doug Applegate’s fellow veterans stepped up to the microphone and named the threat to America: Donald Trump. One of them shook with rage, discussing Trump’s joke about the “captured” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Others asked how Applegate’s opponent, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), could support Trump and claim to be a friend of veterans. “You have a presidential candidate insult…


‘Mini-Trump’ Issa in trouble in 49th District

In this upside-down year, Issa finds himself suddenly in danger of defeat, a prognosis worsened by his decision to embrace Donald J. Trump. VISTA, CA. — For more than 15 years, Representative Darrell Issa has not so much as put out a yard sign. A Republican comfortably ensconced in his Southern California seat, he has blown by one challenger after another since being elected in 2000. The days…


President’s bully pulpit bloodies Issa

Darrell Issa, you’ve been served. And by POTUS no less. Issa just found what eight years of trolling President Obama and soon-to-be-president Hillary Clinton got him — a hot seat; a very, very hot seat. As chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Issa wasted a lot of congressional time and taxpayer money on tea party and trump trolling fictions like investigations into the…


Issa’s and Peters’ voting records show contrasting degrees of party loyalty

Editor’s Note: Darrell Issa is an avid Trump surrogate. Scott Peters supports Hillary Clinton. San Diego-area Congressmen Darrell Issa and Scott Peters don’t have much in common beyond being the incumbents in San Diego County’s only seriously contested Congressional races. For one thing, there’s party affiliation. Peters is a Democrat while Issa is a Republican. For another, there’s tenure. Peters is fairly new to Congress, having…


San Diego House members travel the world with private money

Between the start of the current Congress on Jan. 3, 2015, and the end of June, San Diego County’s five representatives and members of their staffs took 31 trips that were paid for by private entities, mostly charities, think tanks and trade associations. The office of Rep. Darrell Issa, a Vista Republican, led the delegation, with 14 such trips. The office of Rep. Duncan Hunter,…