AZ - Clergy opposed to immigration bill are asked to leave Senate
Posted on Friday, June 26 @ 00:24:57 EDT
Topic: State Laws Immigration illegal legal
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 Dems also walk out after dust-up with panel's chairman
PHOENIX — A group of religious activists were told to leave the state Senate Tuesday after they sought to voice their opposition to a bill designed to get local law enforcement to act on federal immigration laws.
Now, the heated dust-up is underlining concerns about the Legislature rushing through dozens of bills in what may be the final days of its session and Democratic criticisms of the powerful GOP chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
Topics = Illegal Immigration, Sen. Russell Pearce, Arizona state immigration bill, federal immigration law enforcement
June 25, 2009
Daniel Scarpinato
Arizona Daily Star
But that chairman, Sen. Russell Pearce, also the sponsor of the bill, called the clergy "anarchists" who tried to "hijack" his committee.
HB 2280 would ban local policies that prevent law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law, ending what Pearce and others call "open borders," sanctuary policies.
The clergy, part of a socially liberal interfaith group that included representatives from Tucson, called the bill immoral.
Pearce points out he announced at the beginning of the meeting he would not hear any testimony since a similar version of the bill had already been debated.
But later Pearce, R-Mesa, did list groups in favor of the bill, calling them "good citizens" and then spent several minutes explaining his support for the measure.
When Pearce then called for a vote, Susan Youngblood, an Episcopal deacon, and other clergy approached the speaker's podium and voiced their opposition.
"We, too, are good citizens, and we want you to hear our voice as well," Youngblood said.
Pearce called for order, telling the group: "I'm going to gavel you, and you're not even going to be allowed in here anymore if you continue."
"I want them removed," he said.
The group then recited a verse from the Book of Leviticus: "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him."
"Do I hear an amen to scripture from you?" Youngblood asked Pearce, gesturing to him, as they talked over one another.
"Ma'am', I will not condone your irreverent behavior and disrespect for what's going on here," Pearce said. "I will not ignore your disrespect for the citizens who die everyday because of complicity of not enforcing the law. I will not ignore that you have no respect for the constitution and the laws of this land."
As Senate security covered the microphone and told the group to leave, Youngblood shouted into the microphone: "We shake dust from our feet," an apparent reference to Luke 10:11, which is about protesting.
Pearce recessed the committee, at which time Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, reprimanded Youngblood and her fellow clergy.
"You need to obey the law ma'am'!" Allen shouted. "You can't come in this room and be disobedient like that."
Democrats walked out on the committee after the incident. The bill passed 7-0 but still needs final approval in the full Senate.
"What we continue to have is a chairman of a committee who is out of control," said Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson. "I'm tired of hearing his agenda, and his opinion on his agenda."
But Pearce said Democrats and the interfaith group are the ones who are out of control. And he said that, in total, the issue has received 12 hours of vetting in previous hearings.
"They're not going to act like the '60s hippies and come in there and think they're going to hijack the admin building and start making demands," Pearce said. "They've had three other chances to speak forever on this issue."
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