House Republicans plan to turn this summer’s “stolen immigration vote” into a political rallying point for their base and a way to attack what they call the “power-thirsty” Democratic leadership.
In a memo obtained by The Washington Times, key Republican aides outline their strategy for gaining traction from a bipartisan panel’s investigation into the vote Republicans say Democrats “stole” before the August recess:
“Most importantly, we don’t believe that rank-and-file Democrats fully appreciate the magnitude of this matter and the investigative panel their leaders agreed to,” the memo reads.
“This investigation will continue throughout the remainder of the 110th Congress and serve as a reminder to the American people that Democrats (1) became so power thirsty that they were willing to go so far as to cheat, and (2) ’cheated’ on a motion to deny illegal immigrants taxpayer-funded benefits like housing assistance.”
The so-called “stolen immigration vote” occurred during a House agricultural appropriations vote on whether to block taxpayer funds for illegal aliens. Republicans appeared to be winning the vote when they say Democrats responded by cutting off the vote and possibly altering the results.
The House Democratic leadership said it did nothing wrong, but House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, has agreed to Republican demands for an investigation into the matter.
Congress has until Sept. 30 to deliver an interim report before the full House and until Sept. 15 next year to complete its investigation. The investigative panel is expected to have full subpoena power.
House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio is expected today to call for the first investigative meeting to be held “right away” during a press conference after his party’s weekly caucus meeting.
While most expected the issue to disappear, several Republican lawmakers insist the “stolen vote” stirred up the most attention from constituents during local town-hall meetings last month.
“I heard about it in probably half a dozen districts,” House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri told reporters yesterday. “It is my impression that this August that was still the issue in our members’ districts that had the most resonance.”
“And I don’t think our friends on the other side could have possibly picked a worse topic to exercise their abusive authority than they did.”
Mr. Blunt has also introduced a resolution co-sponsored by 90 other Republicans that would send the agricultural bill back to the Senate including provisions to block funding for illegal aliens.
Republicans are mulling their strategy options. One plan would call for a revote on the measure. “How will the Democrats look if after this they vote for the measure?” asked one Republican aide. “And if they change their vote to go against it, that’s even worse. It’s not an advantageous position for them to be in.”
After their weekly caucus meeting, the House Republican leadership today will announce their member selections for the panel investigation.
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