NAMPA — Bickering between Republican 1st Congressional District hopeful Rep. Raul Labrador and GOP Sen. Mike Jorgenson continued Wednesday after Jorgenson accused Labrador of using personal attacks to avoid a discussion of the issues.

Jorgenson, a Hayden Republican, called for Labrador, of Eagle, to drop out of the race shortly after he launched his campaign. The Associated Press reported the two have clashed numerous times in the past.

In a Wednesday e-mail, Jorgenson cited instances he claimed show conflict between Labrador’s stated position on immigration issues and his actions. 

Labrador dismissed Jorgenson’s criticism, calling him ill-informed on immigration issues and said his race is against fellow Republican candidate Vaughn Ward.

“I’m not going to comment anymore on his stuff,” he said of Jorgenson. “Like I’ve said, he is a fringe player who nobody cares about what he has to say.”

Jorgenson said Labrador has refused to support measures to strengthen immigration enforcement in Idaho.

“Why he does this, I don’t really know, but I guess that one could assume that as long as current laws are not enforced and the system remains complicated, Raul stands to gain as a Boise trial lawyer,” Jorgenson said in a phone interview.

According to Jorgenson, Labrador said in a response to the 2006 Gem State Voters Guide he opposed taxpayer supported benefits for illegal immigrants, but in 2007 he voted against a bill that required adults to provide proof of legal residency before receiving state-funded benefits except in certain cases.

Labrador said that legislation was unnecessary and questioned whether it has actually saved the state any money. Existing laws already addressed the issue, he said.

“The problem with Jorgenson is that he doesn’t understand the law very well,” Labrador said. “The state of Idaho was not providing benefits to any illegal aliens.”

Jorgenson disagreed with Labrador’s assessment of the bill.

“Then he’s saying that ... the primary sponsor, Sen. John McGee is wrong, that the Senate is wrong, that the governor is wrong. It was signed into law,” he said. “It’s a safeguard, and it’s a safeguard that many other states have adopted.”

Jorgenson also pointed to statements he said Labrador made in 2007 and 2008 that he said reflected confusion on the issue.

“My race is against Vaughn Ward. I want to know what Vaughn Ward’s position is on immigration. I want to know what he’s done” to address the issue, Labrador said. “I don’t really care what Jorgenson has to say.”

Ward looks forward to a discussion of issues including immigration as the campaign moved forward, spokesman Ryan O’Barto said.

“Vaughn is the only candidate in this race who will go to Congress and vote against giving taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal immigrants,” O’Barto said. “Vaughn will be a strong advocate for securing and protecting the borders, opposing amnesty and any so-called pathway to citizenship and enforcing the current immigration laws.”