"...because I don't want to." and "...that's a matter of Arizona voter sovereignty, quite frankly."
Well hello, Janet. Is this an epihpany? Or are you running for reelection?
Posted on 03/09/2005 4:51:58 PM PST by SandRat
PHOENIX - State lawmakers approved four measures Tuesday all aimed at least in part at the problem of people who cross the border illegally.
On a 39-19 margin the House gave final approval to legislation that would allow a judge to impose a harsher sentence on someone convicted of a crime solely because that person is not in this country legally.
The House also approved:
€ Denying bail to illegal entrants accused of certain crimes;
€ New laws designed to crack down on human smuggling, and;
€ Pursuing the construction of private prisons in Mexico to house citizens of that nation convicted of crimes here.
The moves come as Gov. Janet Napolitano said Tuesday she will refuse to meet with a group of senators from Mexico who are traveling to Arizona to investigate the effects of Proposition 200.
Those senators, who already have appointments with Attorney General Terry Goddard and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, are trying to analyze the law, see its effects on Mexican nationals - and prevent other states from following suit. They also plan to meet with Mexican diplomats and migrants.
Napolitano said during her weekly media briefing she won't sit down with them. Asked why, she responded curtly, "because I don't want to."
Pushed further, the governor said she would be willing to talk with them - but only about what more Mexico and Arizona can do to stop people from coming to the United States illegally.
"But Proposition 200 is the law," she said. "It's been enacted by the people of our state, it's being enforced in Arizona and I think that's a matter of Arizona voter sovereignty, quite frankly."
The sentencing legislation amends existing statutes which set a range of punishments a judge may impose for a variety of crimes.
Those laws permit sentencing in the upper range if a court finds certain "aggravating circumstances," such as whether the crime was committed for financial gain, a prior felony record, whether the victim was elderly, and whether it was a "hate crime" committed because of the victim's race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability.
HB 2259 adds to that list the fact that a person was in violation of federal immigration law at the time the offense was committed.
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix voted against the measure. She said a victim is no worse off just because the perpetrator of the crime was not in this state legally.
The bail measure is a proposed constitutional amendment that would have to be approved by voters next year.
Current law presumes someone is eligible for pretrial release except in certain circumstances. These include murder, rape, molesting a child younger than 15, when the person already is on bail, and when the defendant poses a substantial risk to the community.
HCR 2028 would say bail must be denied to someone here illegally where the proof is evidence or the presumption great that the person committed the crime. It also would permit anyone else not legally present to be held for up to 10 days without bail.
Also Tuesday, the House gave final approval to legislation designed to crack down on human smuggling.
SB 1372, creates a new crime of obtaining the services of another through threats. That is aimed at coyotes who make those they shepherd across the border work to pay off their fees.
Even stiffer penalties would be imposed on those who hold people captive and force them to become prostitutes.
Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, said state laws are necessary because the federal government has shown little interest in prosecuting people who smuggle people across the border.
But Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, voted against the measure, calling it "symbolic gratification" that actually does nothing. The measure now goes to the governor.
The legislation on private prisons, HB 2709, is being pushed by lawmakers who said it will cost less for the state to house Mexicans in their own country than in Arizona.
Those senators, who already have appointments with Attorney General Terry Goddard and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, are trying to analyze the law, see its effects on Mexican nationals - and prevent other states from following suit. They also plan to meet with Mexican diplomats and migrants.
Napolitano said during her weekly media briefing she won't sit down with them. Asked why, she responded curtly, "because I don't want to."
Pushed further, the governor said she would be willing to talk with them - but only about what more Mexico and Arizona can do to stop people from coming to the United States illegally.
"But Proposition 200 is the law," she said. "It's been enacted by the people of our state, it's being enforced in Arizona and I think that's a matter of Arizona voter sovereignty, quite frankly."
Breaking News! AZ Gov finds Backbone! Say:....she won't sit down with them. Asked why, she responded curtly, "because I don't want to."
This is a smokescreen to give people the illussion that they are actually doing anything about illegal immigration, and does not even come close to addressing the problem; these are CYA measures only.
Perhaps we now have one state and one governor that is willing to take a firm stand on illegal immigration, but it's my guess she's doing a Hillary on this.
perhaps but it's a start.
she's in a corner and knows it and she's up for reelection, so of course she's doing a HildaBeast. If we can get something out of it to close the border I and others will take and still vote against her and make sure that the marriage amendment is on the ballot so that she loses big time.
Just meant to look that way. Pro-illegal lobby gives politicians just enough to make it look like they are doing something to address the problem. Of the 13+ million illegals currently in this country, this will effect very few and they know it. Politicians get enough to appear to be doing something to satisfy dumb voters, and pro-illegal lobby continue to shovel the politicians pockets with campaign contributions. Keep watching, only smokescreens.
Wait a minute. These are Mexican nationals, in the US illegally, who commit OTHER crimes WHILE in the US ILLEGALLY, we want to build prisons IN Mexico, to house THEIR Mexican criminals when we take them back to their OWN country, and WE have to pay for housing them?????
Does anybody else see a problem here?
Yep but that's the mind set of some of the folks in Phoenix not too bright is it?
Nope.
Don't be fooled. Janet is an ambitious girl, and she wants Johnny's Senate seat someday. So she isn't gonna do anything at all to screw that up, like a certain governor of California who didn't see the train coming.
She would hand over Arizona to Fox tomorrow if she thought she could. She's just cagier than that.
I wish she would hand AZ of to FOX the FOX owned by Murdock of FNC. At least then we might stand a chance. To el Zorro? We'd think the things Santa Ana did on his march to the Alamo were kind in comparison.
"...because I don't want to." and "...that's a matter of Arizona voter sovereignty, quite frankly."
Well hello, Janet. Is this an epihpany? Or are you running for reelection?
I call the latter...
FYI: Murdock might own FoxNews, but he publicly endorsed and campaigned for John Kerry.
BTTT
"Napolitano said during her weekly media briefing she won't sit down with them. Asked why, she responded curtly, "because I don't want to."
Something stinks about her sudden change of heart. I wouldn't even begin to trust her.
OUCH!!!! Ok let me change that I want Napie to sell the state to Laura Ingraham and Ann Coulter in a limited partnership with a 10% interest to Dr. Savage.
Have you got a Rep who will stand up with the brass she's showing.
>>Breaking News! AZ Gov finds Backbone! Say:....she won't sit down with them. Asked why, she responded curtly, "because I don't want to."<<
This sounds like PMS, the last week of the month, been turned down by a sexy flame or she got her butt chewed out by somebody further up the ladder.
Oh well, somedays you're the dog, others you're the hydrant.
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