WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) today released the following statement regarding the nomination of former Washington Governor Gary Locke as President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Commerce:

“I look forward to working with the incoming Secretary to ensure he has the resources needed to conduct a fair and accurate census that is free from political pressure.  The White House should learn from past mistakes and abandon any attempt to circumvent the authority of the Commerce Secretary.  Injecting ‘Chicago-style’ politics into the census process represents the worst kind of political opportunism and completely undermines the President’s call for bipartisanship.