Steve King Blames Boehner For Immigration Chair Snub

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) recently placed blame on Speaker John Boehner for the decision to pass over the hardliner for chairman of a subcommittee post regarding immigration.

"John Boehner isn't very aggressive on immigration," King told National Journal this weekend, adding that the GOP's "Pledge to America," a guiding document for the new era of Republican leadership, provides little language about the issues of immigration or border security. "It's the tiniest section," he told the Journal.

King said the appointment was Boehner's choice alone, but argued that his experience had made him more deserving of the post.

"The speaker holds the big gavel, and he decides who gets the other gavels," King said. "It makes it very clear that it's not a meritocracy."

HuffPost's Elise Foley reported last week:

Having served as ranking member on the subcommittee since 2007, King was expected to be given the chairmanship this year. Instead, Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) selected Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), another immigration hawk with a slightly lower media profile.

With or without the chair, King said he plans to forge ahead with his own efforts to combat illegal immigration, including a bill that would pick away at the birthright-citizenship guarantees provided by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

"I'm going to be okay with it. I'm going to be okay," King said. "I'll say, 'Sign on to King's anchor baby bill' for example. That's how you get things done ... Then the guy with the gavel hears it."

For more on King's bombastic past, check HuffPost's Jason Linkins' coverage.

Comments

[jalowe1957]

09:03 AM on 01/13/2011

Steve King: A loose cannon who whines and cries like a Baby Bertha cannon straight out of a vintage 1960's Beany & Cecil cartoon, particularly when he does get his way.

[demomntgirl]

08:08 AM on 01/13/2011

I think...somebody's feeling got hurt!

[craig asia]

07:30 AM on 01/13/2011

A party is defined by it's limits. They should "reward" King and Bachman for "all" they have done.

[Hvartski]

12:51 AM on 01/13/2011

Anyone read the inscription on the Statue of Liberty lately? I'm 1st generation and I'm glad my parents can't see this, especially given what they sacrificed to see that I was born here.

[dems08]

12:31 AM on 01/13/2011

it would be great if they would all crawl back under their rocks

[springsm]

12:04 AM on 01/13/2011

And Virginia Foxx (remember Gramma's death panels) was put as chair in some committee.  This shows the empty kettle from which to choose.  My gosh...it is scary.  And Hastings in charge of the Enviornmental Committee.  Hastings who is against all things enviornmental.  With these assignments it is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.  I am gobsmacked.

[freethinking moderate]

10:47 PM on 01/12/2011

The easiest way to successfully attack illegal immigration is to go after all those GOP campaign donors who hire these illegals. Go ahead Congressman King. If you really care about this issue, you have to go after rich employers who keep bringing these "Mexicans" here.

[medic628]

09:38 PM on 01/12/2011

Why him mad!!!!!!

[chloe4455]

08:54 PM on 01/12/2011

Oh boys behave.

[boberrigan]

08:20 PM on 01/12/2011

I've never liked anyone who talked about himself in the third person. This guy is all ego.

[Glen0757]

07:44 PM on 01/12/2011

Actually Mr King, he wanted someone with a brain

[BillyRaySartre]

06:41 PM on 01/12/2011

Seems like the Chairman selection criteria was "a little less nutty".

[valkayec]

05:59 PM on 01/12/2011

Regarding King's anchor baby bill, where's the citation for it in the Constitution?

[centsable]

04:47 PM on 01/12/2011

LOL...maybe if you really wanted the post, you should have shed tears!!!! Johnny would have loved that :o)

[bayguy13]

04:22 PM on 01/12/2011

Gee, sour grapes in the job killing republican party. Just can't imagine. No wonder Boehner has to cry so much.