GOP Leaders Ordered Barton to Apologize, 'Immediately'

Boehner, Cantor laid down the law
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 17, 2010 6:03 PM CDT
GOP Leaders Ordered Barton to Apologize, 'Immediately'
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, questions BP CEO Tony Hayward on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

So what prompted Joe Barton's quick retraction of his apology to BP? A sincere change of heart, maybe. Or it could have been the meeting with House GOP leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor, who told him, "Apologize, immediately. Or you will lose your (committee) position, immediately," reports the Washington Post.

A GOP leadership aide relayed that to the newspaper, adding, "Now that he has apologized, we'll see what happens going forward." Apparently, the Texan's position as ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce panel is safe—unless he makes the rounds on TV and causes another fuss.
(More Joe Barton stories.)

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