NEWS
Tancredo Feels Unwelcome at Borders Hearing
By Susan Davis,
Roll Call- September 12, 2006
Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.) is the first to admit that he is not the most popular Member in the House Republican Conference when it comes to his outspoken stance against illegal immigration, but Tancredo said one House Republican leader crossed the line by un-inviting him from today’s public forum on immigration and border security.
According to Tancredo’s office, he was on tap to speak at the much-publicized forum until House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.), who is chairing the hearing, revoked the invite.
Carlos Espinosas, a spokesman for Tancredo, said House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) had asked the Colorado Republican last week to speak in his place because Pombo was unable to attend and Tancredo had been present at the field hearings hosted by the Resources Committee this summer.
However, according to Espinosas, a Pombo aide contacted Tancredo’s office Sunday night and said Putnam’s office had requested Tancredo not attend. Calls to Pombo’s office were not returned by press time.
John Hambel, a spokesman for Putnam, disputed that account, saying that the directive from Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) had been clear: Only chairmen and subcommittee chairmen of jurisdiction were asked to testify, and Tancredo is neither.
Hambel said Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), chairman of the Resources subcommittee on national parks, was scheduled to speak on behalf of Pombo and the full panel.
Tancredo is no stranger to slights from leadership on the issue of immigration — he is regularly denied requests to make special order speeches on the floor about the topic — but Tancredo is making this personal.
He is expected to call Hastert today to voice his displeasure with his selection of Putnam for a leadership role in the immigration debate.
“It’s a dog-and-pony show,” Espinosas said, adding that Tancredo’s message to the Speaker will be: “If you wanted to pick somebody to represent the Republican position on this issue, why did you pick Putnam?”
Tancredo’s office was quick to note that Putnam is listed as an expected attendee at an event today with other Members and business interests in support of passing a comprehensive immigration bill this year — a position in contrast to leadership’s oft-stated stance that the borders must be secured first.
Putnam’s spokesman disputed the assessment of today’s forum. “All of the ideas will be represented in the room,” countered Hambel.
Hastert announced the forum last week, at which chairmen of jurisdiction and relevant Members will offer testimony and recommendations based on the field hearings held over the summer on immigration and border security.
Republicans will unveil a legislative package Wednesday of border security measures they intend to enact before Congress adjourns for the midterm election.
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