Cannon read aloud newspaper stories that said Tanton received money from groups that finance research to prove the genetic superiority of the white race, fund abortion promotion, push eugenics (selective breeding to improve the human race) and other methods to achieve zero population growth.

Witnesses from NumbersUSA, CIS and DASA acknowledged they had been either been started by Tanton or had received some help through the years. All said, however, they were not controlled by him, adding that they do not share any of the purported extreme beliefs.

But Cannon said afterward he believes they are "part of a family of organizations, which do the bidding of a few people headed by John Tanton." He asserted that Tanton's goals have "been very clear, that is: zero population, sterilization, abortion, eugenics, euthanasia." He said ProjectUSA and its billboards are part of that effort.

Nelsen acknowledged that one of many reasons ProjectUSA seeks to limit immigration is to limit U.S. population growth.

"If it weren't for immigration, the United States would have stabilized its population at 230 million. We are way past that at 290 million, and are blasting forward with no end game in sight," he said.

Nelsen said he became interested in limiting population when he lived for two years in China, and saw overcrowding so extreme that "babies are left in the cold to die." He added he became interested in immigration "when I saw we are going in the same boat as China, not because of family sizes, but immigration policy."

Likewise, Frank Morris, chairman of DASA, said his group believes that limiting immigration would naturally decrease population growth over time as immigrants become more wealthy, educated " and have fewer children by choice."

Nelson said he believes Cannon is attacking them because "he reads the polls and knows this (his reform proposal) is a very unpopular position to take . . . The last thing he wants is attention on the bill" at home, which his groups' billboards are bringing. "So he's trying to attack the messenger."

Cannon also said Wednesday that House GOP members are split almost down the middle — making passage difficult — on proposals by Bush and him to allow temporary "guest worker" programs for aliens, and allow illegals now here to earn legal status and even citizenship over time.

Hostettler, who is among Republicans opposing Bush's proposals, called the hearing Wednesday and stacked it mostly with opponents who argue that allowing more immigrants who might work for minimum wage would collapse salary levels for other Americans, and likely take away many of their jobs.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com