Solyndra Scandal - House Committee Approves Subpoena Of Loan Deal

The Obama administration's ongoing headache over Solyndra promises to continue, as a House panel voted to subpoena documents related to the company Thursday, according to Politico. Meanwhile, details emerged that the White House considered bailing out the defunct solar company days before it declared bankruptcy.

The White House has reportedly fought off requests for documents, according to Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce oversight and investigations subcommittee.

The measure passed by a 14-9 vote, issuing subpoenas for White House Chief of Staff William Daley and Vice Presidential Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, as well as messages exchanged between members of the White House staff.

Committee Wants Solyndra Communications

Sadly, despite our outreach, the White House still refuses to turn over internal Solyndra-related communications, said subcommittee chairman U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., and full committee chairman U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., in a joint statement. We have exercised extraordinary restraint and patience these last eight months in the face of an administration that has fought our efforts to protect taxpayers every step of the way. Our document requests have been reasonable, yet the stalling tactics from the Obama administration have been prodigious.

Documents released by the government on Wednesday detailed an Obama administration plan to bail out the floundering company days before it filed for bankruptcy, according to the Washington Post.

The California solar electric company went under in September, laying off 1,100 workers after receiving a $535 million federal loan guarantees.

The company sold light-weight panels, made up of cylinders instead of flat panels. It was touted by MIT Technology Review as one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world and was visited last year by President Barack Obama. Solyndra raised more than $700 million in venture capital, along with the federal loans.