|
 |
 |
|
Top Republicans threatened to strip Barton of committee spot
The two top-ranking GOP leaders threatened to strip Barton of his perch
as ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday,
according to a leadership aide.
Boehner and Cantor told Barton
at an early afternoon meeting to "apologize, immediately. Or you will
lose your position, immediately," the GOP leadership aide explained to
The Hill.
Further, Barton's office ran his official "apology" by Boehner's office for approval.
It
remains to be seen if the statement will appease irate members of the
GOP conference such as Rep. Jo Bonner (Ala.), who demanded that Barton
"retract" his apology to BP.
Bonner, described by a colleague as
one of the most even tempered members of Congress, participated in a
heated discussion on the floor with Boehner, Rep. Jeff Miller (Fla.)
and Rep. Sue Myrick (N.C.) on Thursday. All were "furious," Miller
said, with Barton for making "reprehensible" comments about a White
House shakedown.
Bonner, a member of Boehner's inner circle and
ranking member of the ethics committee, commands a lot of respect from
the minority leader.
