Government Reform gets a new moniker

House Democrats, looking to send a subtle message about their priorities, have changed the name of the Government Reform committee.

The new name, according to new House rules, is now the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, a name was used during the 1990s.

Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has pushed in the past for more in-depth oversight of the Bush administration. Among other reform bills, he introduced contracting oversight legislation in the previous Congress. He also headed a group called the House Democratic Waste, Fraud and Abuse Truth Squad.

Announcements from other committee chairmen have signaled the coming emphasis on oversight as well.

Waxman believed Republicans failed in the task of watching the administration's actions, a former Republican committee staff member said.  The name change "reflects the fact that he is going to do more oversight than the Republicans ever did," he said.