Maricopa County GOP Passes Resolutions Opposing Amnesty, Supporting PAN Initiative

The Arizona Conservative ^ | 17 January 2004 | Dennis Durband

[Spiff]

Maricopa County GOP Passes Resolutions Opposing Amnesty, Supporting PAN

By Dennis Durband, Editor

Over the objection of Chairman Tom Liddy, the Executive Guidance Council (EGC) of the Maricopa County Republican Party met in emergency session Wednesday, resulting in the passage of two resolutions related to illegal entry into the United States. The meeting was called by Vice-Chairman Steve Johnson when Liddy refused to convene the EGC. The resolutions were on the Jan. 10th agenda for the Mandatory Meeting of Maricopa County Republican Precinct Committeemen, but were not voted on because that meeting ran long, lost its quorum and the resolutions went untouched.

Several district chairmen were upset with Liddy’s inability to complete the Jan. 10th meeting before people started going home at noon hour. Since a quorum was no longer present, Liddy then closed the meeting. District chairmen and county GOP officers asked Liddy to call an emergency meeting to finish the business left over from the meeting. Liddy refused. Johnson then invoked his right to call an emergency meeting, over Liddy‘s objection.

At Wednesday’s emergency meeting, the EGC passed all three resolutions on the table, including two resolutions related to the border invasion and a transportation resolution.

A resolution opposing amnesty passed by a 13-10 margin, with Liddy in opposition. A resolution in support of the Protect Arizona Now initiative passed 17-4, with two members abstaining -- one of them Liddy.

Discussion on the amnesty bill dealt largely with the issue of whether or not to support President George Bush on his proposed Temporary Worker Program in a year in which he is seeking re-election. The Bush campaign has also targeted Maricopa County as the No. 1 county on its must-win list for November. Despite some county GOP board members’ opposition to guest worker and temporary worker programs, there was some support for not opposing the president.

The amnesty resolution puts Maricopa County GOP on record as declaring, “the current enforcement of our immigration laws having been unsatisfactory, we demand that the federal government enforce all immigration laws, including the hiring of illegal aliens, and that we also hereby voice our opposition to any amnesty program or any guest worker program leading to amnesty.” The resolution was sent to President Bush and to all members of the Arizona congressional delegation. Three congressmen -- Sen. John McCain and representatives Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake -- are sponsoring a controversial guest worker program.

Protect Arizona Now (PAN) is an initiative that, if placed on Arizona’s election ballots in November, would require proof of citizenship for services. State and national Republican leadership is opposing PAN, but opinion polling consistently shows overwhelming public support for it across political and demographic lines. The disconnect between the party and the people on PAN is startling.

The PAN resolution passed in the emergency session included the following statements:

• “There shall be enacted registration and other laws to secure the purity of elections and guard against abuses of the elective franchise.”
• " .... The state of Arizona shall guard against the abuse or fraud of our public benefit system.”
• “Whereas, 85% of our Constituents support this initiative (KAET TV/ASU Poll), 96% GOPUSA/Arizona poll, PROJECTUSA Poll that was 95% in favor of this initiative, Insight on the News/Insight Magazine 95% supports the PAN Initiative, FrontPage Magazine Poll 95% in favor of Initiative (many others).”
• “Therefore, be it resolved that we the Precinct Committeemen of Maricopa County, of the State of Arizona do hereby support the Initiative titled, “The Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection act.”

[Spiff]

What are the odds that the other Arizona county GOP organizations are going to even attempt a vote on these types of resolutions!? I brought up a resolution at the last Cochise County GOP meeting to remind our elected representatives that they are Republicans and should stop spending like Democrats. (not in those words, but that was basically the message) and it was voted down (by two votes or so) after the chairman stated her opposition to the resolution (and even wanted me to withdraw it).

I'm going to get a copy of these resolutions and have a go at getting them passed at our next meeting. Fat chance, but you gotta do what you gotta do and that is something that I've gotta do.

[Spiff]

pins

[Paleo Conservative]

Supporting PAN Initiative

Boy that't confusing. Af first I thought they were supporting Mexican President Fox's political party.

[tgslTakoma]

Good luck on your efforts, Spiff. Hopefully more county GOPs will look at this issue and do what Maricopa County has done. Maybe if Bush sees the vast opposition to his plan, he will drop it.

One can hope, anyway.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Sounds like the ghost of Barry Goldwater stiffened a few spines...

[Zipporah]

I thought the same when I read the header.. thank goodness that the pressure is making headway. We just have to keep it up.. and hard.

[Zipporah]

I doubt he'll drop it..it's been in the works for too many years, he'll maybe make revisions.. but they won't be near what is needed. The end to this insanity, upholding the law.

[sarcasm]

“the current enforcement of our immigration laws having been unsatisfactory, we demand that the federal government enforce all immigration laws, including the hiring of illegal aliens, and that we also hereby voice our opposition to any amnesty program or any guest worker program leading to amnesty.”

Bravo!

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

Just for contrast with another urban county in a border state, last week's Harris County (Houston, TX) Republican Party Executive Committee meeting met and voted on two resolutions related to immigration with what I perceived as NO opposition from most or all of the leadership. The Exec. Comm. consists of all the several hundred pct chairs.

The first resolution came in two forms, both offered by good conservative grassroots leaders. The first form was more diplomatically worded, the second more direct. Both resolutions opposed amnesty. The more strongly worded one was substituted for the first one offered and passed.

The second resolution dealt with the problems of accepting the "Matricular" cards offered by Mexican consulates as identification. That, too, passed (91 to 47 by division vote according to my notes). The resolutions were voted on early enough in the meeting as to prevent the dissolution of the quorum.

[Spiff]

Great! Can I get copies of those resolutions?

[Az Joe]

Gordon's boy causing trouble at the county Repub meetings?

[Spiff]

Don't know who Gordon is...

[Az Joe]

As in G. Gordon Liddy.

[WOSG]

Spiff,

Why not "in those words"? Sounds like exactly what the Repub leaders need to hear! ... you may be interested in what I told the RNC and NRSC by mail today ...

---

As a Republican who has supported the GOP for many years and is active locally, I regret to tell you that I cannot in good conscience financially support the NRSC at this time.

The problem is Senate Republicans are supporting Bush policies that are quite mistaken:
President Bush's immigration proposal is at best a non-solution and could possibly make things worse without improved immigration law enforcement. The Senate Republican leadership should be out there supporting real immigration enforcement and reform: the CLEAR Act to get local law enforcement to help enforce immigration law (Sen Chambliss and Sen Sessions has a bill on this), a national database for employment verification that fights documentation fraud, etc. The Senate should call for an end to the amnesties under 245(i) and the admistrative abuses at EOIR that slow deportations. If we are to add a new visa category, we should also change immigraton law to end chain migration (non-nuclear family sponsorships). Republicans like Senator Chambliss, Rep Lamar Smith and Rep Tom Tancredo have made good proposals. The Senate Republican leadership should follow their lead and not the flawed Bush/Cornyn or even worse the Kolbe/McCain approach, or the seriously flawed DREAM Act. These all are invitations to make a serious problem worse.

The Bush administration and Congress are failing to adequately control spending. Pork barrel spending is rising, a huge Medicare entitlement expansion was passed, and now even more expansion of Government largess is proposed in health care, etc. Bush proposes a 4% increase. Why is it not a 0% increase? Why spend those billions in 'earmarks' that Congress (now Republican) is putting in? Why not take the pork out of the farm bill, the energy bill, and the Medicare bill? If a Democrat spent as Republicans are now spending you'd call it fiscally irresponsible - and rightly so!

Bush and the Senate Republicans should stop pandering to special interest constituencies looking for handouts. You need to get back to basing policies on conservative principles and ideals. I cannot support the NRSC if it just is used to market the basest form of pandering proposals that increase Government spending and fail to solve real problems. That means no to the NRSC. It is the only sensible thing until you and the President return to fiscally sound conservative message and conservative policies in action.

I just hope this doesnt end up in the trash because it doesnt contain a check, but I felt I needed to explain why the check is NOT in the mail.

[f7Oshawn]

Yeah!

Mr. Liddy seems like you're in the opposition quite a bit lately. Maybe this county chair thing just isn't for you.

[JustPiper]

State and national Republican leadership is opposing PAN, but opinion polling consistently shows overwhelming public support for it across political and demographic lines. The disconnect between the party and the people on PAN is startling.

Friends, we need to start getting the word out FAST about the Tancredo write-in to the media. They need to know there is an important issue to cover here! PRIMARIES ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH!!!

[Spiff]

Arizona State Republican Primary: Tuesday 7 September 2004
General Election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

Great! Can I get copies of those resolutions?

The party usually puts the final passed versions of resolutions up on the website http://www.harriscountygop.com/sections/rulesbylaws/rules.asp , but I don't see them yet. I'll type the text of the one that didn't pass. FReepmail me in the next few days if they don't get around to posting the others in a timely fashion and I'd be happy to type the others for you. You might also be interested in this other resolution passed at a previous meeting "RESOLUTION OPPOSING HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER 500-5 PROHIBITING COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT" on that same link.

I don't think this was amended before the other version was substituted, but I can't guarantee that. Anyway, here it is:

---
RESOLUTION OPPOSING AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS

WHEREAS our nation is built upon a rich heritage of people who came form many different countries bringing with them a remarkable array of cultural traits and customs and,

WHEREAS these individuals have become productive tax paying citizens or legal workers by following the law and,

WHEREAS our nation is facing a serious problem of illegal aliens who have crossed our borders from countries around the world with no respect for our immigration laws and,

WHEREAS a nation which does not enforce its laws will soon deteriorate to such a state in which it is no longer a viable nation and,

WHEREAS granting amnesty for illegal aliens would only encourage future illegal entry in our country from nations around the world and,

WHEREAS our party's 2002 state platform declares that our party "opposes all forms of amnesty for illegal aliens" now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Harris County Republican Party opposes amnesty for illegal aliens in whatever form it may take and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Harris County Republican Party supports fair, equitable and legal immigration which would continue our nation's growth from people around the world while still maintaining control of our borders.