Washington D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) released the following statement regarding Senator Judd Gregg’s (R-NH) decision to withdraw his name from consideration to serve as the next Secretary of Commerce citing “irresolvable conflicts” on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census:

“President Obama came to office on the promise of change and bipartisanship – yet as early opportunities have come to work with members of both parties, talk of bipartisanship remained just that – talk.  As Senator Gregg alluded to in his statement, the Administration’s stimulus package was one reason for withdrawing his name from consideration.

"The other reason was the injection of Chicago-style politics into the nonpartisan Census process.  This was an outrageous and unprecedented attempt to politicize the Census.  I commend Senator Gregg for his decision to stand by his principles and withdraw his name from consideration.  Regardless of who the President nominates to serve as Secretary of Commerce, Republicans will continue to demand a fair Census that is not manipulated by White House political operatives.”