Thread: Tancredo quits immigration panel

http://test.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_5176440

Tancredo quits immigration panel
By Christa Marshall
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 02/07/2007 12:55:26 PM MST


Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

Washington - Rep. Tom Tancredo has decided to step down as the chairman of the House Immigration Reform caucus to focus more on his 2008 campaign for president and provide others an opportunity to lead on the immigration issue.

The Littleton Republican handed the chairmanship to Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., but will continue to actively participate in the congressional caucus, which was established by Tancredo in 1999.

Since its creation, the caucus has grown to more than 90 members and played a key role in rallying support in 2006 for passage of a tough House immigration bill that called for strict border enforcement measures and penalties for employers that hired illegal immigrants.

"Tancredo is no longer the sole voice on immigration," said Tancredo spokesperson Carlos Espinosa. "He wants to get more people active on the issue."

Espinosa added that the caucus move is part of an effort by Tancredo to give his immigration stance a national platform. He said the congressman plans to put in additional travel time to campaign and pressure other presidential candidates to articulate their stance on illegal immigration.

Last month, Tancredo announced he was forming an exploratory committee to seek the Republican presidential nomination, a move that allows him to raise funds for a White House run without being an official candidate.

This is it, the race is on, go Tom!

Bilbray, has big shoes to fill, I have no doubt he can do it though!

Agree, nitty, Bilbray will be great!

Originally Posted by nittygritty

This is it, the race is on, go Tom!

Bilbray, has big shoes to fill, I have no doubt he can do it though!

Nitty, I don't know much about Bilbray, is he going to be as good as Tancredo for us?

Go Tancredo, I'm behind you and I'll see what I can do to help up here in Idaho, The good thing is we are a Repubican state, so much so the people up here put Rep. Sali in office just because he is a Republican, and he embarresses me, but gives me alot of hope for Tancredo.

(TANCREDO 200

Tancredo for President!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOM!!!!!

I'm not usually a one-issue voter, but on th issue of illegal immigration I will make an exception. The question is though, "Can he go the distance?"

This is a good move, now we will have two loud voices against the illegal invasion.

Thank all that is good in this world that Tancredo is running. I was beginning to get scared that he was not going to run. I remeber when he said that if no major party candidate was going to address the immigration issue that he would run. I think he has a really good chance to win. Albeit, he is not a household name but neither was Clinto when he won the Democrat nomination.

GO TOM GO!!!!

Welcome enforcetheborder!