Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis was invited by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-CA, to testify Wednesday morning concerning her department’s decision to force journalists covering “lockups” releases of new unemployment data to use only government computers and software.
Solis “declined,” according to the committee. It appears the reason for her decline is that she is being honored Wednesday morning at the St. Joseph’s Breakfast, a fund-raising event for the Faith and Politics Institute, a non-profit advocacy group with strong ties to Big Labor and liberal religious interests.
For more information on the Wednesday hearing, go here.
UPDATE: House panel surprised
A spokesman for the Issa panel told The Washington Examiner that Solis “never indicated that scheduling was a problem, and we would have happily considered another date in June for her to discuss the lockups.” The spokesman said the committee was told that Solis simply would not discuss the lockup issue at any time with the committee.
The Examiner has requested comment from Solis, as well as from the Faith and Politics Institute regarding the specific Solis accomplishments that led to her selection for being honored at the St. Joseph’s event.
UPDATE II: Non-profit explains Solis invite
A spokesman for the Faith and Politics Institute provided this statement from the group in response to the Examiner’s questions regarding the labor secretary’s specific accomplishments that led to her being honored at Wednesday’s breakfast:
“The Faith & Politics Institute is honoring Secretary Solis, a daughter of immigrants, because of her advocacy on behalf of immigrant workers. She has spoken at and attended numerous St. Joseph’s Day breakfasts which are held in the spirit of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers. We are delighted to honor her this year. The invitation to Secretary Solis was extended and accepted several months ago.”
For additional information on the “Lockups” issue, see:
DOL forcing media to use government computers
DOL won’t explain why media must use its computers
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing release
Obama is pulling down the shades on union financial disclosure
