Thread: AZ. Gubernatorial candidates weigh in on immigration bill

Gubernatorial candidates weigh in on immigration bill

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer stayed mum Tuesday, declining to say whether she will sign or veto Senate Bill 1070, the state's controversial and wide-ranging immigration measure.

The bill was passed by the Senate Monday afternoon; the governor has until Saturday to take action on it.

But other gubernatorial hopefuls are becoming increasingly vocal about the bill.

Owen "Buz" Mills, who is one of four leading candidates in the contentious Republican primary race, issued a statement on Monday saying that he was in support of SB 1070.

"It steps up Arizona's already tough immigration laws and sends another clear signal that the safety of Arizona citizens and communities is priority number one," Mills said.

State Treasurer Dean Martin said that he was also in support of the legislation, which would, among other things, make it a crime to be in the country illegally and bar what its proponents call "sanctuary city" policies.

"The federal government will not enforce our immigration laws," Martin said. "They will not secure our border, and it's leaving us with quite a big mess to deal with.

"This is not about what you look like. It's how you got here."

Attorney General Terry Goddard, meanwhile, came out strongly against the legislation, issuing a statement on Tuesday that said, in part, this bill does nothing to improve border security or address the core causes of illegal immigration," adding that it would "take law enforcement resources away from stopping more serious crimes."

Goddard, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Governor, said that immigration enforcement is the purview of the federal government. On Tuesday, he sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, encouraging them to step up their enforcement efforts and institute stricter laws against offenders.

"Reform must begin with the recognition that our current federal laws are woefully inadequate, and are much to blame for the desire of many border state policy makers to take matters into their own hands," the letter said. "Federal law must be amended to allow felony charges against those caught entering the United States illegally, even for first time offenders."

Representatives for the campaign of John Munger, another leading GOP gubernatorial candidate, could not be reached for comment.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/P ... ider/78990

"Reform must begin with the recognition that our current federal laws are woefully inadequate,

Yes, Goddard, the laws do not make it a felony to be in the country illegally, but are you going to wait for new laws to be written and perhaps enforced if Napolitano has time or political oomph while American citizens get killed, robbed, raped, etc.? Or will you do what you can on behalf of the state's rights and the safety of American citizens and legal immigrants?

Go Republicans! United We Stand, Divided and Over Run With Illegals We Fall.

Sign the bill Jan. Just sign the bill.

Effective Dates for State Legislation http://bit.ly/aFLbTW

Arizona - If the Governor signs the bill, the law takes effect immediately if it was emergency or Proposition 108 legislation; otherwise the law takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die. Proposition 108 requires legislation that provides a net increase in state revenues to receive a two-thirds majority vote in each house of the Legislature. Such bills become effective immediately upon the governor’s signature

Originally Posted by Buzzm1

Effective Dates for State Legislation http://bit.ly/aFLbTW

Arizona - If the Governor signs the bill, the law takes effect immediately if it was emergency or Proposition 108 legislation; otherwise the law takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die. Proposition 108 requires legislation that provides a net increase in state revenues to receive a two-thirds majority vote in each house of the Legislature. Such bills become effective immediately upon the governor’s signature

So that gives law enforcement 90 days to get organized, gather their information, conduction their investigations, develop their reasonable suspicion or better yet probable cause and the work begin.