Republicans not in lock step regarding immigration
By Leigh Ann Caldwell, CNN
WASHINGTON — The similarities are plentiful. Both congressmen are Republican. Both represent central California — their districts share a border. Both are recently elected to Congress. Both have outspoken positions on immigration reform.
And that’s where the similarities end.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, represents the California side of Tahoe in Congress. Photo/LTN file
Rep. Jeff Denham, who represents California’s 10th Congressional District, is actively lobbying his Republican colleagues to get on board behind immigration legislation that includes a path to legalization.
But Denham’s views don’t cross district lines. His congressional neighbor and fellow Republican, Rep. Tom McClintock, couldn’t disagree more. While his 4th District is next to Denham’s, a wide gap exists between the two on this issue.
“We have a path to citizenship and it’s a path that has been followed by millions of legal immigrants who have obeyed all of our laws,” McClintock said. “It’s unfair to have 11 to 20 million illegal immigrants cut in line ahead of them.”