Democrats are set to subpoena

According to the LA Times, "Rep. Ike Skelton knows what he will do in one of his first acts as chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the Democratic-led House: resurrect the subcommittee on oversight and investigations.

The panel was disbanded by the Republicans after they won control of Congress in 1994. Now, Skelton (D-Mo.) intends to use it as a forum to probe Pentagon spending and the Bush administration's conduct of the Iraq war."

Now, handing out subpoenas could help uncover what has happened in Washington over the past 14 years. But Democrats should be careful when they hand the subpoenas out. This should not be used as a way to dig up dirt on Republicans but it should be used to find what has happened over the past years, no matter if it is Democrats or Republicans that they are investigating. Investigations can help the American people see what there government is up to, and it should be used when needed. But Democrats need to be careful not to overuse this power. It needs to be used in moderation and with discretion.