Babeu: America in state of national emergency
thetranscript.com
By Jennifer Huberdeau,
North Adams Transcript
Posted: 01/06/2012 08:01:07 AM EST
NORTH ADAMS - Former City Councilor Paul Babeu believes "it's time for a new sheriff in Washington."
The high-profile Arizona sheriff announced his candidacy as a Republican nominee for the state's newly formed 4th Congressional District on Wednesday. He is the first to announce a bid for the district, which includes much of the Phoenix area.
"America is in a state of national emergency," Babeu, 41, said in a telephone interview with the Transcript on Thursday. "I'm a trained first responder - while others run away from a crisis, I'm trained to run toward them. I'm not just going to fight against illegal immigration, demand a secure border with Mexico and the enforcement of our laws. What tops even those issues is the state of the American economy."
He added, "There's a clear lack of jobs and a spending problem in Washington. The fact that every 42 cents we spend must be borrowed is just unacceptable. I intend to go to Washington and make tough decisions."
Babeu, who gained national notoriety when he won a seat on the North Adams City Council at the age of 18, also served as a Berkshire County commissioner and was headmaster of the DeSisto School in Stockbridge from 1998 to 2001. He also ran unsuccessfully against former state Sen. Andrea Nuciforo in 1996 and twice against former Mayor John Barrett III.
In 2003, he moved to Arizona, where he served as a "rank and file" patrolman for the Chandler (Ariz.) Police Department, until being the first Republican elected as sheriff of Pinal County in 2008. Since his election four years ago, he was named 2011 Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriff's Association and appeared alongside U.S. Sen. John McCain in his 2010 presidential bid's "Build the Danged Fence" television and Internet advertisements.
Babeu most recently lent his voice to former Gov. Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in a November robocall to Iowa voters and is cochairman of Romney's Arizona campaign committee.
"I recently introduced Gov. Romney at his endorsement by former Vice President Quayle," he said.
Babeu said his plan to stimulate the country's economy includes "changing" entitlement programs and cutting taxes, including cutting corporate taxes to 25 percent.
"What we need isn't division between those who work to 'make it' and those who occupy Wall Street and believe they are entitled. We need to bring America together and tell our proud history, which is one of a free market economy."
The way to fix the economy isn't through federal stimulus funds but by encouraging investment, he said.
"There's $2 trillion out there not being invested for fear of taxes and regulations. We need to encourage investment in private business - it will have a domino effect and create jobs."
Although his campaign was just launched, Babeu formed an "exploratory" committee in October and says he already has support from individuals around the country.
"I've had a lot of support from friends in North Adams and Berkshire County - sending messages of support on Facebook and on our website, as well as donations," he said. "Our campaign is buttressed by law enforcement groups, but we also have gained support from military organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. We also have support from the Tea Party."
Babeu estimates he'll need to raise $1 million before the state's Aug. 28 primary.
"We'll do it. We have supporters across the country and will be holding fundraisers outside of the state in Los Angeles, Chicago, Tulsa, Boston and Washington D.C.," he said. "I'm very excited for this opportunity to server Arizona and our country."
http://www.thetranscript.com/ci_19685837
Pinal sheriff makes immigration reform platform for Congressional bid
verdenews.com
by Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
1/6/2012 4:11:00 PM
PHOENIX -- The fight to represent a far-flung congressional district could be determined on how Arizonans feel about whether children of illegal immigrants are entitled to U.S. citizenship.
In announcing his bid for Congress on Wednesday, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu touted his law enforcement background.
"There's literally an emergency in Washington,' Babeu said. He said that makes the problems there an ideal fit for his status as a "first responder.'
"While people are running the other direction away from trouble, I'm running towards it,' he said.
That specifically includes the issue of illegal immigration.
Babeu said he and his department have been on the front line in that fight, especially against the gangs that smuggle drugs.
"We can continue doing that,' he said. But Babeu said the problem cannot be solved within one county, or even one state.
"There has to be a federal solution,' he said, promising to provide "subject-matter expertise, first-hand experience' for Congress.
His promise to focus on securing the border makes him not so different than state Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, who also is weighing a bid to represent the far-flung district that stretches from Pinal County through Prescott and Kingman and then south to Yuma. Gould said Wednesday he is still making a final decision.
But there is one area where the pair clearly disagree: Whether to challenge the current interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which has so far been interpreted to mean that anyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen.
Gould has been at the forefront of that fight in Arizona.
Last year he sponsored a package of legislation which would require at least one parent to prove either citizenship or legal residency in order for the child to be recognized as a citizen of Arizona and, by extension, the United States.
Parents who provide the necessary documentation would get a birth certificate certifying the child as a citizen. Failure of a parent to provide that proof would result in issuance of a birth certificate stating it is not proof of citizenship.
And the package would require Arizona to enter into compacts with other states with similar laws and agree to recognize the two types of birth certificates -- and treat the person accordingly.
Gould acknowledged that Arizona changing its laws would not affect federal policy. And he conceded it likely would be challenged, with the question likely winding up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
"They've never made a ruling specifically on whether the children of illegal immigrants born on United States soil are illegal immigrants,' he said.
"The bureaucrats have decided that they are,' Gould continued. "But the court has never ruled.'
Gould was unable to get the votes last session. But he said the issue will not go away.
Babeu, however, said such a debate is a waste of time.
"Clearly, we're not going to go back, and anybody who's been born in the United States to take citizenship away from them,' he said.
More to the point, Babeu said he consider the issue not only divisive but diverting attention.
"Why don't we solve the problem,' he said. "This is where so many people are focused on the symptoms and trying to fix those' instead of securing the border.
Gould said he cannot legally make a decision on whether to run until next week.
That is because state law makes it illegal for an elected official to seek another office before the last year of his or her campaign. And Gould's legislative term runs until a new crop of lawmakers is sworn in on Jan. 7, 2013.
But Gould signaled he is ready for a fight with Babeu, including on who is better suited to address illegal immigration in Washington.
"I've spent the last 10 years fighting illegal immigration in the Legislature, which is a legislative job,' he said. "And Congress is a legislative job, also.'
Babeu also promised to combat what he sees as runaway spending by the federal government. That, too, is an area where Gould has some credentials, having made a name for himself at the state Capitol even fighting spending plans by his own Republican colleagues.
Gould said if he decides to run he will serve out the balance of his Senate term rather than resign as has been the practice of some lawmakers seeking federal office.
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In announcing his bid for Congress on Wednesday, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu touted his law enforcement background. Photo by Howard Fischer
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