House Republican Darrell Issa ignited a fiery debate earlier this month when he suggested the government enact stricter policies on first families and their policy work.

Claiming the public has a right to know the activities of Michelle Obama as well as future presidential spouses, and insisting that the Obama administration has trumpeted "transparency," Issa, who hails from California and heads the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, remarked, "We are trying actually to protect the historic role of the First Lady … I believe this is open government at its finest." If Issa got his way, Mrs. Obama’s meetings would have to be announced and, possibly, open to public scrutiny.

As Politico’s Josh Gerstein notes, the move would overturn a 1993 appeals-court ruling that said then-First Lady Hillary Clinton was qualified as a "federal employee" and therefore she had a right to privacy while attempting health-care reform. While Issa may have thought himself quite clever, House Democrats warned him that President Obama may take it as an affront.

Via Politico:

Rep. William Clay (D-MO) suggested President Obama might see the legislation as a personal provocation that could trigger a fight. “Let me … caution my friend from California that, as you’re probably aware, this president is very guarded about his family,” Clay said. “I think that, no matter what you’re intending with this amendment, that the president may view this as an attack on his wife. And I’m just saying, you know, let’s be careful — if we want to open up that can of worms. Let’s not go in that direction.”

Issa insists he originally attempted to pass the amendment during the Bush administration and is not motivated by party politics. He just wants to make sure first families know their limits — and we know what they’re doing with their time.

Mrs. Obama’s office had no comment. But we bet they will if Issa’s amendment passes.