New House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) says he won’t contract anyone to paint his official portrait, describing the practice as outdated.
“No, I’m not going to sit for some painting,” Chaffetz said in a CNN interview posted Wednesday, laughing at the idea of receiving an official portrait. “That’s so 1800s.”
The Hill reported last month that one of Chaffetz’s first acts after taking the Oversight gavel was removing portraits of past chairmen, which have hung in the committee room for years.
{mosads}Among those removed was the portrait of his predecessor, fellow Republican Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.), who picked Chaffetz in 2011 to lead the Oversight Subcommittee on National Security.
Issa allies regarded the move as a slap in the face, noting his likeness had only hung in the committee room for two months. One former committee staffer described it as “childish and extremely disrespectful.”
Chaffetz defended his decision last month, saying he had “no desire” to get a portrait of himself, instead wanting the room filled with photos depicting everyday America, such as images representing coal miners and civil rights activists.
“Nothing personal to those who have done it before, I just think this room should be inspired not by those who served as chairmen, but by those [who] we work for,” Chaffetz told CNN.
He also noted that the portraits can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
“It’s a waste of money,” he said.
As for those who may want a portrait of Chaffetz: “They can go on Instagram and pull off a picture if they want.”