Immigration Politics: House Republicans choose Californian to lead immigration committee

House Republicans choose Californian to lead immigration committee - ContraCostaTimes.com: "Signaling their approach to immigration reform this year will be hawkish but not rhetorically extreme, House Republicans have chosen a Southern California congressman to head the group of lawmakers that drafts and introduces immigration policy. The solidly pro-enforcement Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, was named Friday morning to lead the immigration subcommittee in the House of Representatives...

"The answer to illegal immigration is fairly simple," Gallegly said in a news release Friday. "First, we must enforce our laws and secure the border. Second, we must remove the magnets that encourage illegal immigration. Finally, we must remove the benefits that make it easy for them to stay."

Gallegly said he would oppose any form of amnesty, and he pledged to quickly hold hearings to scrutinize the Obama administration's approach to work site enforcement and to expand the use of E-Verify, a program for employer screening of workers' immigration status.

Missing from Gallegly's statements Friday was any mention of revoking birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, a hot-button cause that has been a pet issue for ,,, immigration hawks (such as Steven King of Iowa, who was expected to be chairman.)" Jan. 7, 2011