Records contradict Mississippi governor on lobbying work for Mexico

Haley Barbour's firm listed him as a key member of the team that promoted a path to citizenship for Mexican illegal immigrants. He said Saturday that he wasn't involved.

By Melanie Mason and Maeve Reston,
Los Angeles Times
4:53 PM PDT, March 23, 2011

Reporting from Washington and Sacramento

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's assertion that he did not personally work for the government of Mexico when his lobbying firm represented the country a decade ago is contradicted by the firm's own federal filings, which describe him as a leader of the team assigned to the account.

During an appearance Saturday at the California Republican Convention in Sacramento, Barbour denied a reporter's statement that he once "lobbied for the government of Mexico on the issue of amnesty and a path to citizenship."

"Your facts are incorrect," Barbour said, adding, "I didn't do the work in the firm; one of my partners did." The Republican governor said one of the issues his firm worked on was a law that would have allowed legal immigrants to renew their visas without leaving the country, though he added, "Don't hold me to all the details."

In fact, the firm lobbied in support of bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain legal residency by paying a fine, instead of having to return to their home countries before applying for legal entry.

(More here.)