Thread: Kyl gets Border Patrol union backing

http://www.azcentral.com

Kyl gets Border Patrol union backing
Leaders applaud senator's push for more funding

Robbie Sherwood
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 27, 2006 12:00 AM

U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl picked up a key endorsement Wednesday from a southern Arizona Border Patrol union whose leaders lauded his push for increased funding for border enforcement.

Edward "Buzz" Tuffly, president of the National Border Patrol Council's Local 2544 in Tucson, said Kyl has been "a tremendous asset" for its about 2,500 agents, who patrol one of the nation's busiest and sectors for illegal immigration. Tuffly said that Kyl, who is facing challenges from Democrat Jim Pederson and Libertarian Richard Mack, is the first politician the group has ever endorsed.

"We've had a number of agents reach out for his help, and he's always been tremendous," Tuffly said. "And we appreciate his efforts to get us additional funding."

Congress has reached a stalemate over comprehensive immigration reform, but Kyl said he recently asked the Bush administration for $3.76 billion in emergency funding to help enforce existing immigration laws.

"They are doing a tough job under very difficult circumstances, and it's appropriate that we take our hat off to them," Kyl said of the Border Patrol.

While the Tucson-area Border Patrol union has not endorsed other candidates, the national affiliate of the Border Patrol union did endorse Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist in his failed run for Congress last year in California.

And Tucson's Local 2544 has been aggressively critical of politicians who support what its members call "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants. Chiefly, the group has focused its ire on Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain, whom it has derisively dubbed "Amnesty John" on its Web site. The group has also criticized President Bush's proposal for a guest worker program.

Pederson spokesman Mark Bergman said that Kyl has stood in the way of comprehensive immigration reform, and added that Tucson Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council has not supported moderate politicians who favor comprehensive immigration reform.

The high-profile race is starting to heat up of late. Pederson is back on the air with commercials promising to take on high gas prices by ending tax breaks for "big oil" companies.

He will unveil his plan to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil during a news conference today at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute. The plan includes a "virtual campus" to allow laboratories and researchers across the country to team up to research and develop alternative energy technologies.

State Republican Party officials took issue with the accuracy of Pederson's commercial, saying that gas prices depicted ($3.79 for premium) are higher than any yet seen in Arizona, suggesting that the footage came from another state. The highest average prices in Arizona were $3.52 in Scottsdale after Hurricane Katrina, according to AAA.

Pederson spokesman Bergman said the commercial was filmed locally and that gas prices have been as high in Arizona as the footage showed.

"They are just trying to divert attention from the real issue," Bergman said. "And that is the failure of leadership of Jon Kyl and George Bush to create a sane energy plan that will actually reduce dependence on foreign oil and save consumers money at the pump."

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/phoeni ... ily40.html

Hawkish border patrol union endorses Kyl in Senate race
The Business Journal of Phoenix - 4:50 PM MST Wednesdayby Mike SunnucksThe Business Journal
A union group representing Border Patrol agents in Arizona has endorsed U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl's reelection efforts, while highly criticizing fellow Republican Sen. John McCain's stance on immigration matters, which includes a legal path for some of the 12 million illegal immigrants already living in the U.S.

National Border Patrol Council's Local 2544 is backing Kyl, a Republican, in his reelection effort against Democratic real estate developer Jim Pederson.

The union represents 2,500 Border Patrol agents in Arizona and praised Kyl for working to get more resources and equipment to the Mexican border.

The NBPC groups also likes Kyl's get-tough approach to the immigration question and has been critical of guest worker initiatives and pathways to legal status favored by McCain, President Bush and business interests.

The group calls McCain "Amnesty John" on its Web site (www.local2544.org) and takes more conservative stances on the border front.

Kyl said he still is hopeful immigration legislation can be passed before the end of the year and stressed that he supports a comprehensive approach to the problem. A number of conservatives -- including Scottsdale Congressman J.D. Hayworth -- just want border security improved and want that accomplished before other aspects of the immigration debate occur.

Pederson and Gov. Janet Napolitano -- two of the state's top Democrats -- support McCain's immigration plans.

Immigration is poised to be a major issue in this year's election with conservatives taking a get-tough security-oriented stance and Democrats, such as Pederson, faulting incumbent Republicans for not securing the border.

Pederson spokesman Mark Bergman said during Kyl's 20 years in Washington, the border has become less secure and porous. "On immigration, Jon Kyl has been long on words and short on real results," he said.

Kyl's campaign defends his immigration and border security record pointing to recent efforts by the Republican to bring more federal security resources to the Mexican border.

Also on Tuesday, Kyl voted with McCain and other Republicans to strengthen parental notification restrictions related to abortions.

The Republican-backed bill was approved by the U.S. Senate and makes it a federal crime for a nonparent to transport girls under 18 years of age across state lines for an abortion if that action skirts state abortion laws and requirements to notify parents of such procedures.

The measure has the backing of anti-abortion groups, but is opposed by advocates favoring abortion rights. Both McCain and Kyl have conservative, anti-abortion voting records.

Pederson said Wednesday he supports parental notification laws, but opposes the GOP bill, which garnered some support from Senate Democrats.

"Jim supports parental consent but believes that this bill will send trusted clergy members, grandparents and adult siblings of young women to jail and would force young women into potentially dangerous situations without a family member," said Bergman.