Third Republican signs on to Democrats’ immigration bill, saying it “cannot wait”

NBC Latino News

Republican Rep. David Valadao endorsed the Democrats’ House immigration bill Wednesday saying it “cannot wait.”

Valadao joins Republican Reps. Jeff Denham, also of California and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida in supporting the sweeping immigration reform legislation.

“Addressing immigration reform in the House cannot wait,” Valadao said in a statement.
Valadao, who has a district with a significant Latino constituency, said he’s been working to find common ground with Democrats on immigration reform.

Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, said in a statement: “We are glad to see he’s a man of his word and has moved into action to help pass a common sense approach to fixing our broken immigration system. A revised system that is fair to agricultural workers and makes business sense will benefit our Central Valley, state and country.”

Valadao said recently he has been trying to muster like-minded Republicans to demonstrate to his party leadership’s “broad support within the party to address immigration reform in the House by the end of the year.”

The California congressman is one of 10 Republicans targeted by the Latino Victory Project, a group conceived by actress Eva Longoria and Democratic National Committee Finance Chair Hector Muñoz. The group has pledged to spend $20 million to target the Republicans in the 2014 elections.

Valadao’s spokeswoman Anna Vitter said the congressman had generally agreed with much of the Democrats’ bill but had held off endorsing because of some technical concerns which he worked out with Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla, the bill’s sponsor.

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