Immigration 2013: Marco Rubio and White House in war of words over immigration meetings

WASHINGTON - The temperature's rising between Sen. Marco Rubio and the White House over immigration reform.

Tuesday the Republican senator from Florida's press secretary put out an email release stating President Barack Obama and his staff were not working with congressional Republicans on immigration reform.

"Contrary to what the WH COS (Chief of Staff Denis McDonough) said on the Sunday shows, President Obama and the White House staff are not working with Republicans on immigration reform. Senator Rubio's office has never discussed immigration policy with anyone in the White House," wrote Rubio press secretary Alex Conant. "To be clear: That's fine with us -- we actually think Congress should write the policy; not the White House. But an honest question: If the Obama Administration is serious about drafting & passing its own immigration reform, why wouldn't they seek input from any Republicans whose support they'll need."

The White House disputes the contention that administration officials have not contacted Rubio's staff over immigration. A senior administration official tells CNN there have been five meetings in which White House staff and "Gang of Eight" staff were present to discuss immigration reform. The White House says this includes staff from Rubio's office.

Rubio is one of four GOP senators who are teaming up with four Democratic senators, known as the "Gang of Eight," in an effort to achieve a bipartisan immigration overhaul bill. Over the weekend he pounced on the Obama administration after news the White House was preparing their own legislation, should Congress fail to act. Rubio said such a bill would be "dead on arrival."

Regarding the communication between the White House and Rubio's office, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday that the administration has reached out to the offices of each "Gang of Eight" member and the president met with the Democratic members of the bipartisan group.

"Let's be clear," Carney said. "The problem here isn't a lack of meetings around the table in the Roosevelt Room or the Cabinet Room."

And Tuesday afternoon, Rubio's office acknowledged that that the meetings had taken place, but said they were not asked by the White House for input on the administration's backup bill.

"We have never discussed immigration policy with anyone from the White House. The Administration has sent some agency officials to brief staff at the bipartisan group meetings, but they've never asked for our input," Conant told CNN. "We've never received a call or email from Cecilia Munoz [director of the White House Domestic Policy Council] or anyone else at the White House asking for our input as they draft their bill."

This back and forth follows the weekend leaking of draft White House legislation on immigration in case the "Gang of Eight" work is not successful at producing a bill. After USA Today reported the existence of the draft, the White House reached out to Senate offices, including Rubio's, late Saturday and said the leak was inadvertent, an aide to Rubio told CNN.

The back and forth between Rubio's office and the White House also comes as the senator is on an official congressional trip to Jordan and Israel.