Homeland security turf battle brews in House

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, Wednesday accused members of the House Homeland Security Committee of butting into his legislative turf by seeking to put two of its members on the conference committee for Coast Guard reauthorization legislation.

Young noted the Homeland Security panel did not have jurisdiction over the bill, although leadership agreed to name one committee member as a conferee.

The Homeland Security panel "was never supposed to be a legislative committee," Young said. "That was not the agreement we had with this speaker, leadership and the Congress. It's supposed to be an oversight committee, period."

Young also criticized Congress for creating the Homeland Security Department, saying it was the "worst mistake." He added, "As a party that prides itself on less government, we are creating one big government."

Young's outburst does not bode well for Homeland Security Chairman Christopher Cox, R-Calif., who is aiming to push through Congress this year the panel's first-ever authorization bill for the department.