Group seeks Prop. 187-like ballot measure

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | December 3, 2003 | Ed Mendel

[gubamyster]

By Ed Mendel STAFF WRITER

December 3, 2003

SACRAMENTO – A group that sponsored Proposition 187, a measure denying public services to illegal immigrants that was blocked by the courts, will try to place a similar initiative on the November ballot next year.

The group is encouraged by the pending repeal of a law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver licenses and the historic election that recalled former Gov. Gray Davis and replaced him with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ron Prince of Save Our State said polls show that Proposition 187 continues to be popular with voters, and drives for the recall and a referendum on the driver license law show that signatures can be gathered on the Internet.

"This business of trying to pander to one ethnic group or another – that doesn't wash very well with the public," Prince said.

The secretary of state gave the group approval yesterday to gather the 598,105 signatures needed to place the initiative on the ballot.

Proposition 187 was passed by voters in 1994 after a divisive campaign, but was struck down in court because of a conflict with federal law. After Davis dropped an appeal in 1999, the backers of Proposition 187 unsuccessfully tried to gather signatures for another initiative.

"Our movement was rather discouraged," Prince said, "and there was not enough interest to be able to do it. The white flag was flying over our side of the issue."

Prince said the new initiative avoids a federal conflict by using language from a law passed by Congress in 1996 that denies taxpayer-supported public services to illegal immigrants, but makes enforcement optional by states.

He said the new initiative does not contain the Proposition 187 ban on children of illegal immigrants attending public schools. But he expects the school ban to be sought in a lawsuit if the measure passes.

The new initiative also prohibits issuing driver licenses to illegal immigrants and would prevent state and local government from accepting identification documents issued by foreign consulates.

[gubamyster]

ping

[VU4G10]

GOOD!

[janetgreen]

Good news! Hopefully the language will be crafted carefully so some liberal judge cannot overturn the will of California voters AGAIN. This could actually discourage border hoppers from coming here if it passes, and it might encourage some of the ones who are here to go home. We're paying to support half of Mexico now, and we just can't afford it anymore.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Arizona has an initiative going as well, so if this one makes it on the ballot two states will be sending a message to Washington and state legislators next November: close the borders and quit pandering to lawbreakers.

[GrandMoM]

A group that sponsored Proposition 187, a measure denying public services to illegal immigrants that was blocked by the courts, will try to place a similar initiative on the November ballot next year.

....Nine years have passed and I think the new Prop 187 will have to be modified and less stringent, . Time and familiar association has created less animosity and more tolerance.

[gubamyster]

Time and familiar association has created less animosity and more tolerance.

The more taxes I pay and the more illegals that break and enter into my country, the less tolerant I become about my taxes going to pay for benefits for illegals.

[Die_Hard Conservative Lady]

I second that !!
I'm tired of seeing my taxes used on people who are ILLEGALY, what part of that word does our government not understand?

[John Jorsett]

Prop 187 failed because they found one judge to declare it unconstitutional, and Davis used that as an excuse to throw up his hands. Had Davis pursued an appeal, there's a good chance that at least some of 187 would have survived. I suspect that Schwarzenegger will be no better, and we'll be back in the same boat with a new measure.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Schwarzenegger says 187 is old news, McClintock would have gone to the courts to appeal it.

[GrandMoM]

Trust me, it will not pass! The illegals are so entrenched in our daily lives, the gullible and in the dark soccer mom types who haven't a clue their taxes are supporting these immigrants, will NOT vote FOR 187!

[Sabertooth]

A group that sponsored Proposition 187, a measure denying public services to illegal immigrants that was blocked by the courts, will try to place a similar initiative on the November ballot next year.

< -snip- >

Ron Prince of Save Our State said polls show that Proposition 187 continues to be popular with voters, and drives for the recall and a referendum on the driver license law show that signatures can be gathered on the Internet.

"This business of trying to pander to one ethnic group or another - that doesn't wash very well with the public," Prince said.

The secretary of state gave the group approval yesterday to gather the 598,105 signatures needed to place the initiative on the ballot.

Sucks to be Karl Rove. This is going to be fun.

[Regulator]

It'll pass in a heartbeat, unless Schwarzenegger comes out against it forcefully. He won't risk alienating the rest of us, so while he may be against it, he won't make a big deal of it. He'll leave it to the voters and try to appear neutral.

In which case it will pass. At which point the lawsuits will fly. Then we will be back to 1999: will the governor appeal it if portions are found "unconstitutional"?

That's when Mr. Schwarzenegger, the man from Austria, shows us whether he understands what the "Rule of Law" and the "Vote of the People" are really all about.

[DumpsterDiver]

When the website is ready it's going to be http://www.save187.com and you'll be able to download the petitions. I believe Ron (Prince?) said they'll need 598,000 signatures by next April to get it on the ballot.

[Regulator]

You are Clearly Clairvoyant™!!

Thanks for the info, and I'll be downloading petitions as soon as they become available.

[DumpsterDiver]

This will be fun. I look forward to hearing California's Hispanic "leaders" pitching a collective hissy fit.

[Pelham]

Prop 187 was designed to challenge the 1982 Plyler v Doe decision that forces taxpayers to pay to educate ilegals. The goal was to have 187 reach the Supreme Court so that Plyler v Doe would be reconsidered.

Judge Marianne Pfaelzer short circuited the process. She held back her decision on the challenge to Prop 187 until Gray Davis replaced Pete Wilson, then Davis as Governer refused to appeal Pfaelzer's decision to kill 187. Neither one of them wanted to risk having her decision reviewed by a higher court.

The new bill won't challenge Plyler v Doe. Californians will still have to pony up over $1 billion each year to educate illegals. The new bill is being written to conform to all current Federal laws concerning illegals. It will be very hard for any court to strike down the new Proposition, because by doing so they will be challenging current Federal law.

[Pelham]

This is going to be fun.

You aren't kidding. The entire California electorate versus the MeCHistas and their RNC toadies. I can't wait.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Bump!

index.....

[Joe Hadenuf]

It's going to happen......We've over thrown the state government, and this is next......