Grassley pledges to work with Dems on executive oversight

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is pledging to work with Democrats when it comes to oversight of the Bush administration, but only if the new majority checks partisanship at the door.

In a chat with The Hill’s Congress Blog, Grassley, known for his oversight of the executive branch regardless of who is in power, voiced concern that Democrats might use their new power to conduct oversight in a “very partisan” manner.

“When it’s substance-based, I intend to work very closely with them,” Grassley said, adding that he would continue to conduct his own oversight.

The Iowa Republican, the outgoing chairman of the Finance Committee, also believes the Republican Congress could have been more aggressive in its oversight of the Bush administration.

He compared the last few years to “when the Democrats stopped a lot of oversight during the first two years of the Clinton administration.” Democrats have long accused congressional Republicans of giving the Bush administration carte blanche.