Conservatives pushing GOP chairman

WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) -- Conservatives on the Republican National Committee are pressing Chairman Michael Steele to call a special meeting on the U.S. economy next month, members say.

The group, led by James Bopp Jr. of Indiana, wants the RNC chief to bring the entire committee together to focus criticism on President Obama's stimulus package and the lawmakers who voted for it, including three GOP senators, The Washington Times reported Friday.

Steele nixed holding a special meeting but offered to sign a statement criticizing the stimulus package and the Democrats who passed it, but not Republicans supporters Arlen Spector, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

Conservatives on the 168-member committee report they have collected enough signatures of members from 16 states to force a full committee meeting May 20 at National Harbor outside Washington.

Oklahoma RNC member Carolyn McLarty says conservatives are concerned that conflicting public statements by Steele have diverted attention from what they see as the disastrous leadership of Democrats.