The speaker of the House usually hosts a Cinco de Mayo reception, but he won’t be doing so this year, according to a spokesman for House
Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Instead, he has encouraged the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to host the event,
The Hill reports.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairman Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, reportedly wrote a letter to Boehner urging him to reconsider. But Boehner rejected the request. The reception may not have looked good for the GOP at a time when it’s taking a tough stance on illegal immigration.
Cinco de Mayo (May 5) marks the victory of the Mexican military over France in 1862 and has turned into a holiday celebrating Mexican heritage in the United States.