Can California Republicans lead immigration reform?

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From the May Day march for immigration reform

State Senator Anthony Cannella represents a swath of the Central Valley that’s 64 percent Latino. That includes nearly half his district’s registered voters. So it’s not too surprising that Cannella, along with more than a dozen other California Republicans, are pushing back against their party’s national leaders on immigration reform and calling for a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. But do they have any sway in Congress?

On “Which Way, LA?” this week, Cannella talked to Warren about California Republicans’ attempt to lead on immigration. He also explained why he recently voted in favor of giving undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses and law licenses, but not for letting them serve on juries.

Cannella was joined by Republican political consultant Allan Hoffenblum, who said that while the Republican party in California is “barely surviving now,” it could die if Republican lawmakers in the state didn’t embrace immigration reform. But, he said, it will be a tough sell for their counterparts in Congress who represent largely white, suburban districts.

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