When I pick my subcommittee chairmen, I look for people that understand what it's like to run successful businesses, who know what it's like to sign the front of the check instead of the back of the check: somebody that gets it.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I'm not the hands-on guy. I like writing the check, and I turn it over to the guys that make it happen, much like the way I ran my business.
Any committee is only as good as the most knowledgeable, determined and vigorous person on it. There must be somebody who provides the flame.
I don't sign every check anymore, but I have my checks, my balances. I like the people I work with very much, but I check on them.
I like to know who I'm working with, and it's important because they've got to be able to bring something to the party.
Serving on the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight allows me to play a role making government more accountable by investigating waste, mismanagement, and improprieties.
My whole deal is I want to have a principle-based, member-driven caucus.
Speaker Newt Gingrich has appointed a task force, which I'm on, and over the next couple months the task force is going to try to come up with legislation that does what we're all trying to do. I feel pretty good about the members that are on the task force.
It is necessary to get a lot of men together, for the show of the thing, otherwise the world will not believe. That is the meaning of committees. But the real work must always be done by one or two men.
Somebody said, 'You may be a committee chair.' I don't think so. I don't think anybody would want me that much.
The individual who signs the check has the ultimate power.