Darrell Issa is a United States Congressman from California’s 49th District. http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=38 Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party in 2001, Darrell Issa was reelected to his office by wide margins in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/house/california/49 http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=38 In line with most of his Republican counterparts in the United States Congress, Representative Darrell Issa has voted no on issues like the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funds, the health care bill (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) and the stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009).http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/house/california/49

Darrell Issa serves as the ranking Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=38 In year’s past, he has also served on committees such as the Small Business Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Energy & Commerce Committee. http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=38 California’s 49th District is located in Southern California, north of of the city of San Diego, and encompasses the cities of Oceanside, Vista, Temecula and Perris. http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/house/california/49 In the 2010 election, Darrell Issa faces challenger Howard Katz from the Democratic Party. http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/house/california/49

Darrell Issa was born on January 1, 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=I000056 Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Darrell Issa was a U.S. Army officer and the CEO of Directed Electronics, an aftermarket car security and accessory company. http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=38 Issa’s voice was made famous by Directed Electronics’ Viper car alarm device, which, when activated, featured a recording of Issa saying “please step away from the car.” http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03EEDC143FF930A15754C0A9659C8B63 Because he is dyslexic, Representative Issa sometimes has difficulty understanding what he is reading. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03EEDC143FF930A15754C0A9659C8B63 Despite his medical condition and a checkered past that involves car theft and weapons violations, Darrell Issa managed to amass a fortune from his business.http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/i/darrell_issa/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Darrell%20Issa&st=cse According to a CBS News article posted by Brian Montopoli in 2009, Darrell Issa is the richest member of the U.S. Congress, with assets projected at more than $250 million.http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5553408-503544.html

In 2003, Darrell Issa made a name for himself as one of the most ardent supporters for the recall of California Governor Gray Davis and the special election that ushered in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/i/darrell_issa/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Darrell%20Issa&st=cse As a member of Congress, Darrell Issa has been a proponent of smaller government and investigating alleged corruption within the administration of Barack Obama. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/i/darrell_issa/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Darrell%20Issa&st=cse He has sponsored a bill to stop funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), showed support for the troop surge of 2007, and is against horse slaughter practices.http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28:issa-sponsors-legislation-to-defund-acorn&catid=22&Itemid=67http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=212:iraq&catid=40&Itemid=67http://issa.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=211:horses-and-free-roaming-burro&catid=40&Itemid=67