WASHINGTON — Nearly one quarter of U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall’s constituents were born outside the United States. His office handles stacks of cases from immigrants trying to navigate the country’s labyrinthine laws.
And the Lawrenceville Republican firmly opposes the Senate-passed immigration bill. He is eager for the House to act but does not want that action to include any new pathways to citizenship, as the Senate bill does, for the 11 million immigrants in the country illegally.
Woodall’s stance represents the distance between Republican Party leaders — who see a big immigration bill in part as a way to court Hispanic voters who wield increasing political clout — and the House GOP rank-and-file, nestled in safe districts where their only political peril is on the right. And a trip around his district reflects the political incentives for Woodall’s position.
GOP pollster Matt Towery of InsiderAdvantage said a vote in favor of a new path to citizenship would spark a contentious primary.
“We do have very strong activists on the anti-immigration reform side who are willing to go after anyone who they feel is not in lock with them,” Towery said. “This is an issue not about defeat, but more an issue of, ‘Do I have a placid summer or do I want to work for my re-election?’ ”
Woodall insists he just wants to make strong policy and that primary challengers are “good for the process.” The second-term congressman and former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. John Linder easily won a primary last year.
via Immigration challenge resonates in diverse 7th | www.myajc.com.
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