Thread: Good AZ news. Voters get say on illegals on Nov.ballot

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Migrant rules, official English go to ballot
Legislature tries end run around governor's vetoes

Matthew Benson and Carrie Watters
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 22, 2006 12:00 AM


The Arizona Legislature on Wednesday sent measures to the November ballot that will ask voters to make English the state's official language and prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving a variety of state services.

As the session neared its end, lawmakers were on the verge of placing nearly a dozen referendums on the Nov. 7 ballot.

But just as importantly, they voted against several of the most controversial measures being considered for the ballot. They decided against referring to the ballot measures that would have penalized employers who hire undocumented workers and appeared likely to reject a proposal that would have created obstacles for communities trying to condemn private property.

Ultimately, several measures did go to the ballot in a flurry of final-day legislative action that likely set the stage for an equally harried election campaign season. Once again, immigration dominated discussions.

Immigration measures referred to the ballot will enable voters to:


• Block undocumented immigrants from being awarded punitive damages in lawsuits. Other proposals would put state subsidies off-limits to migrants, including child care and adult education as well as in-state tuition rates and state financial aid for college.


• Prevent local communities from enacting so-called sanctuary policies that bar area law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law.


• Amend the Arizona Constitution to make English the official language of state government.

The last-minute measures, especially those affecting children and students hoping to attend college, drew criticism from Democrats. Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, suggested legislators were "repressing ourselves to the Alabamas and Mississippis of the 1960s."

"What we are doing here today is wrong," added Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix. "We are hurting our own state. We are hurting our own community."

The ballot measures amount to an election-year end run around the veto stamp of Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Sen. Dean Martin conceded as much. The Phoenix Republican called the ballot a last option for legislation on immigration and other issues already vetoed by the Democratic governor.

"That's why you're seeing it as the last thing on the last day. We've tried everything else," Martin said. "Going to the ballot is an unfortunate circumstance. I'm not disappointed in us; we've passed the bills."

Legislators didn't refer to voters a measure that would have expanded the state's trespassing statute to criminalize undocumented immigrants for their mere presence in the state. That provision was included in a pair of bills vetoed by Napolitano this session.

The Legislature also took a pass on sanctions for employers who hire undocumented immigrants. Rep. Russell Pearce, a leading voice for get-tough border enforcement, had drafted a measure for the ballot but was unable to put it to a vote.

Earlier this week, the Mesa Republican called the employer sanctions measure "the most critical piece of the (immigration) package" and had stern words for legislators whom he feared might stand in the way of the proposal at least getting a vote.

"I'll name names," Pearce declared at the time. "These people ought to be removed from office that refuse to enforce the law."

Besides immigration, lawmakers were considering assorted other issues for the ballot.

Lawmakers were considering tougher hurdles for communities trying to use eminent domain to obtain private property.

That measure would allow such private-property owners to seek a jury trial to determine the worthiness of the government's bid.

Some referendums resembled legislation booted by the governor, but a measure about the governments right to take private property went much further than an eminent domain bill she vetoed earlier this month.

The vetoed bill would have narrowed city and municipal governments' ability to take blighted areas for redevelopment.

Originally Posted by mapwife

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Migrant rules, official English go to ballot
Legislature tries end run around governor's vetoes

My sister used to work in Yuma, AZ and she told me all about how it is a pro-employer state, and that illegal aliens are routinely hired, with impunity. To not go after the employers is a major mistake. That's not a mixed message, it's a blatant message to the AZ employers: we don't have the guts to make you pay for betraying us.

I will not forget two important events this week either: Congress voted itself a raise, and voted down an increase in the minimum wage.

American Business wins again, American employees lose again.

But otherwise, the news is improving in AZ! Has anyone surfaced who will run against Napolitano who is worth serious consideration?