EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes responds to accusations made by some El Paso City Representatives he used threats to change their votes on a resolution calling for an open, honest debate about legalizing drugs.

Reyes said he didn't use threats or coercion so the resolution would fail. But he did say he wanted to make clear, he thought the resolution would be bad for El Paso.

"The timing couldn't be worse and the issue can't be more controversial," said Reyes.

Reyes is talking about the resolution El Paso City Council tried to pass a few weeks ago. As KFOX reported, city representatives originally and unanimously supported a resolution that called for a debate on legalizing drugs. Reyes said he told city representatives federal money could be lost if they supported the resolution. Some council members saw this as a threat.

"I'm not in the business of dictating or making threats. I believe part of my responsibility, because I represent this area at the federal level, is to make sure they understand the things they do that aren't helpful to me," said Reyes.

Reyes maintains federal funds that could be allocated to El Paso will be lost if council overrode Mayor John Cook's veto of the resolution, but he didn't offer any specific examples. He said council should let the issue go because the Juarez violence isn't directly affecting El Paso.

"Don't override this veto. Let the issue go away because we're literally going to see billions of dollars passed by Congress that are going to be very beneficial in many different areas to El Paso," said Reyes.