Sanchez Is Denied Chance to Host Hearing

SANTA ANA — After Republicans denied her the opportunity to hold an official congressional hearing, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) came to town anyway Tuesday to hear leaders press for more federal aid for higher education, especially for Latinos.

Sanchez was supposed to host one of 12 field hearings of the subcommittee on post-secondary education to gather testimony on the Higher Education Act, which sets priorities for federal financial aid. The bill comes up for reauthorization later this year.

But Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) recently informed Sanchez that, despite a previous agreement, no hearing would be held in the 46th District.

Sanchez said McKeon told her the Republicans did not believe a hearing should be held in a district where an election outcome is under investigation. The House is looking into former Rep. Robert K. Dornan’s claims of voter fraud in his loss to Sanchez. But a spokesman for McKeon said the hearing was canceled because McKeon had already held one in California.