Caucus embroiled in leadership dispute

[brooklynite]

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus scheduled a special meeting Tuesday to try to resolve an embarrassing leadership dispute that led one lawmaker to quit the group.

Among the options is a power-sharing arrangement that would dilute the authority of the caucus' controversial chairman, Rep. Joe Baca.

So far, Baca has resisted any changes to the caucus' power structure, according to caucus members and staff. Baca is under fire from female lawmakers, including fellow California Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez (news, bio, voting record), who quit the 21-member, all-Democratic group after accusing Baca of calling her a "whore."

Baca denies that. A meeting last Thursday broke up without resolution or a vote, and afterward Baca insisted that he was still in charge and that he was focusing on the future.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070305/ap_on_go_co/congress_hispanic_caucus_1