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California Rep. Darrell Issa is already eyeing a massive expansion of oversight for next year, including hundreds of hearings; creating new subcommittees; and launching fresh investigations into the bank bailout, the stimulus and, potentially, health care reform.

Issa told POLITICO in an interview that he wants each of his seven subcommittees to hold “one or two hearings each week.”

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Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the incoming chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is beefing up the panel in preparation for battle with the Obama administration next year.

Issa on Friday announced the addition of two new subcommittees, one focused on stimulus oversight and government spending and the other on government bailouts of public and private programs.

In all, the panel plans to have seven subcommittees compared to the five that existed before Issa took the helm, according to his spokesman Kurt Bardella, who said the focus and title of the five subcommittees that existed in previous Congresses also likely would change.

The announcement comes one day after Democrats elevated Rep. Elijiah Cummings (D-Md.), a shrewd but combative senior Democrat, to the ranking position on the committee, a decision aimed at countering Issa’a strong personality and plans to scrutinize all corners of the administration.

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