GOP Rep To Join Democrats' Immigration Reform Push

[Tx4obama]

GOP Rep To Join Democrats' Immigration Reform Push

-snip-

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) told the Post he's the first Republican to co-sponsor with 185 Democrats a plan giving undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship, and he expects "more to come on board."

The plan takes up most of the Senate's bipartisan immigration bill, according to the Post, but includes a House GOP-approved border security bill. Denham told the Post he was sold on the plan when Democrats agreed to include a provision providing a path to citizenship for young immigrants who serve in the military.

While some conservatives are eager to block President Barack Obama's second-term priority in the wake of the shutdown fight, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) told reporters Wednesday that the issue "needs to be addressed."

Denham told the Post that party leadership assured him immigration reform will be "on the floor by the end of the year."

Full post here: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-rep-to-join-democrats-immigration-reform-push

[Dopers_Greed]

1. Nice to see a Repub taking a principled stand

He'll be primaried by the baggers in 5...4...3...2...1...

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Don't be fooled, boys and girls.

Before the 2010 redistricting (now done by a Citizen's Redistricting Commission ), I was actually in his district, barely (literally by one block). I had heard he was going to have a Town Hall meeting during one of Congress' many breaks and I called his office to find out where/when. As it turned out, he was ONLY meeting with TeaKlanners, who heavily back him. His Congressional district covered several hundred miles at the time (when California was still gerrymandered) and he was having ONE meeting, an hour away from the biggest city in his district. He's doing this because the San Joaquin Valley has a very large Mexican and Mexican-American populace and anyone from the San Joaquin Valley BETTER support Immigration Reform or they're out on their asses. It's kind of an anomaly unique to the Valley. Just like an anti-choice Republican an never be elected to the Governorship in California. But take a look at this guy's voting record, he's as conservative as they come.

[Laelth]

3. Useful information. Thanks for the post. n/t

-Laelth