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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; When Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, became one of the first members of Congress to endorse Donald Trump&#8217;s presidential candidacy, he went against both the Washington establishment and his own party.</p><p>Now, Trump has asked Barletta to write a policy paper on illegal immigration. And a Washington Post story claims Barletta is one of Trump&#8217;s &#8220;most trusted&#8221; members of Congress.</p><p>&#8220;I was one of the first to come out and support Trump before it was popular,&#8221; Barletta said. &#8220;As a result, (U.S. Rep.) Tom Marino and I were appointed co-chairs of Trump&#8217;s campaign in Pennsylvania. His victory in the Pennsylvania Primary was big for him overall and pivotal in Trump going on to secure the nomination.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta said Trump&#8217;s campaign feels a Pennsylvania victory in the November General Election could mean the difference in Trump winning the White House.</p><p>In an email, Jon Anzur, Barletta&#8217;s campaign manager, said The Washington Post recently published an article naming Barletta and Marino as two of Trump&#8217;s most trusted members of Congress.</p><p>From The Post story: &#8220;Trump insiders say both men&#8217;s endorsements were crucial in helping Trump win Pennsylvania in April. That night, you&#8217;ll recall, was Trump&#8217;s five-state sweep in the Northeastern primary and seemingly the beginning of the end of the Republican nominating contests.</p><p>&#8220;Barletta is an immigration hard-liner who likes Trump&#8217;s idea to build a wall and Marino, who represents a conservative, more rural section of northeastern Pennsylvania, told the online publication Politico endorsing Trump was &#8216;one of my life-changing moments.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p>The Post story said &#8220;Trump&#8217;s early endorsers are playing a pivotal role in helping the nominee expand his appeal in Washington. They even hold weekly strategy meetings with Trump&#8217;s campaign (that have become standing-room only) to talk policy and politics.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta said the group meets weekly with Trump&#8217;s top campaign people in Washington.</p><p>&#8220;When we first started, we could have held those meetings in a phone booth,&#8221; he said Monday. &#8220;Now, we need a bigger room&#8221; as 30 to 40 members of Congress attend the meetings.</p><p>&#8220;They&#8217;re starting to rally around Trump,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Once it became obvious that he would be the Republican nominee, it became safer to affiliate with him.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta said he knew endorsing Trump would not be popular with GOP leadership and there could be repercussions.</p><p>&#8220;And now I&#8217;ve been asked to write a policy paper on illegal immigration,&#8221; Barletta said. &#8220;I will be giving it to him soon.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta said Trump has not made any promises to him, nor has he asked for any favors.</p><p>Barletta said illegal immigration has been his top priority since before he was elected to Congress.</p><p>&#8220;Nobody in Washington has done anything to address this,&#8221; Barletta said. &#8220;I believe Trump will.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta feels Trump appreciates how difficult it was for him to go against Republican leadership.</p><p>&#8220;I was outspoken,&#8221; Barletta said. &#8220;My endorsement wasn&#8217;t a silent endorsement. I didn&#8217;t hide. I spoke out.</p><p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t just dip my toe in the water &#8212; I dove in head first and I know he appreciates that,&#8221; Barletta added.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, met with Donald Trump prior to Trump&#8217;s rally April 25 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TRUMP-Barletta.jpg</photo0><caption0>U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, met with Donald Trump prior to Trump&#8217;s rally April 25 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Rep. Lou Barletta considered one of Donald Trump’s ‘most trusted’ members of Congress