GOP's Issa ready for final assault on 'Obamacare'

WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of the Obama administration's harshest congressional critics will get a final high-profile shot when the House Oversight Committee grills witnesses about the president's health care overhaul and a former adviser's remark about voters' "stupidity."<br /> <br /> For four years, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has used the committee chairmanship to probe and attack the administration on issues such as the IRS scandal, misplaced guns and U.S. deaths in Benghazi, Libya. Talk radio conservatives love him. But even some GOP colleagues say he overdoes the combative partisanship at times.<br /> <br /> Issa, who surrenders the chairmanship next year due to term limits, will lead the questioning of former health adviser Jonathan Gruber. Gruber, an MIT economist, recently apologized for saying Americans' "stupidity" was vital to passing the health law in 2010.<br /> <br /> The committee also will question a top administration official who wants to be queried separately from Gruber.<br /> <br /> The hearing comes as prominent Democrats debate the wisdom of devoting much of 2009 - Barack Obama's first year as president - to the bruising battle for the health care legislation, which finally passed without a single Republican vote. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York is among those Democrats now criticizing the timing. Top liberals are defending Obama, creating new divisions among Democrats right after major losses in this year's elections.<br /> <br /> Like many congressional hearings, Tuesday's session may provide partisan fireworks while doing little or nothing to change government policy. The president says he will veto any effort to overturn what Republicans call "Obamacare," should such a bill reach his desk after Republicans add Senate control to their House majority next year.

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