Well, she's certainly vulnerable on that point...
Posted on 05/11/2005 4:29:32 PM PDT by hsmomx3
Gov. Janet Napolitano defended her immigration record Wednesday amid criticism of several recent vetoes and increasing expectations the GOP will paint her as weak on border issues in next year's election.
Last year, Napolitano opposed Proposition 200, which denies welfare benefits to illegals and was approved by voters. She also favors allowing illegal immigrants to receive state driver's licenses.
This year the Democrat has vetoed several conservative immigration-related bills this year including measures:
* Requiring federal, state or tribal identification to be presented in order to receive government services. * Tightening up identification requirements for prospective voters. * Making English the official state language. * Contracting for a private prison to be built in Mexico that would hold illegal immigrants who commit crimes.
Republicans in the Legislature are readying bills for the governor that allow local police to enforce federal immigration laws, that prohibit local governments from funding day labor centers that help illegals, and that extend Prop. 200 provisions to include child care subsidies, adult education classes and some other government services.
Republicans hope the vetoes and Napolitano's stance on Prop. 200 will hurt her at the polls next year. Conservatives are also looking to put more anti-illegal immigration measures on the 2006 ballot. That, along with a gay marriage ban, could mobilize Republican voters.
Camilla Strongin, a Republican consultant, said immigration will be the top issue in the 2006 elections and the GOP will look to paint Napolitano as weak on immigration issues.
Napolitano defended her immigration record Wednesday, saying the bills she vetoed were flawed and will not help address the surge illegal immigration into the state.
"These bills will have not one whit of effect on illegal immigration in this state," the governor said.
Napolitano said the key to securing the border and dealing with immigration problems is for more federal resources on the U.S. side and better border enforcement and economic development in Mexico.
When asked if Arizona should play a roll in boosting job growth and economic development in Mexico, Napolitano said she would not use state tax dollars for such efforts.
The Democratic incumbent enjoys strong approval ratings but the GOP has a registration advantage in the state and hopes to recruit a top tier challenger such as Marilyn Quayle or U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona for a 2006 run.
Mrs. Quayle, the wife of former vice president Dan Quayle, declined comment on possible 2006 run.
Public relations consultant Jason Rose says Republicans can make inroads against Napolitano on immigration but that she is still in a strong political position.
"She's incredibly weak on immigration issues but it would still take an incredible performance by the Republican nominee to defeat her," said Rose. "Piestewa Peak, all day kindergarten, immigration and vouchers aren't going to cut it as a recipe for Republican success."
Stan Barnes, a former GOP state lawmaker and top business lobbyist, said Napolitano is "vulnerable" on the immigration front, especially considering Republican passage and her pending approval of business tax cuts.
Business groups backed the GOP's Matt Salmon in the 2002 governor's race, but Napolitano has tried to forge warm relations with top business and technology executives.
Arizona Chamber of Commerce vice president Farrell Quinlan said that the business community does not have a problem with Napolitano on immigration matters. The state chamber and other business groups also opposed Prop. 200 and, like Napolitano and some Republican congressional members, support a federal guest worker program.
Still, Quinlan expects immigration to the top issue in next year's elections.
Well, she's certainly vulnerable on that point...
bttt
PhxNews.com has a survey asking if Butch will win reelection. 75% say yes and 25% say no.
Yesterday, while a few hundred Hispanic people were out boycotting, Phoenix Police Officer David Uribe was killed in the line of duty, putting his life on the line for all of us.
God bless him.
The boycotters dumped on his commitment and character. They didn't even have the sense to issue a statement ending the boycot after Officer Uribe's death.
And Napolitano certainly has implicitly supported the boycott.
BTTT!
I could have sworn I read that some 2,000 of these people went and protested at the capitol yesterday. 2,000????
I find that hard to believe.
Butch is a disaster, but the media cover for her and liberal "Republicans" are cozy with her.
Same 'ol droning mantra.
It's getting real old, Damit-Janet.
When will she make her own proposal on something that, in her bleeding heart mind, would make a "whit of effect?"
You got that right. I just wonder who is cozy with her. Whoever it is, she keeps her in the closet.
Recall this witch.
My senator (Toni Hellon) has publicly stated that she is too smart to lose. I hope Matt Salmon chews her out .. BIG TIME for such disloyalty to the party.
I hate to say it but we need to play dirty like the demons. Attack her for her positions as well as her cradle to grave plans and yes, if need be, bring up her closet lifestyle.
Bring it on.
We need to get much more of Arizona to have that same mindset.
This is the first I have heard of this. Is there an article in a Phoenix newspaper you could link us to? I'm so sorry to hear this.
if the republicans put up someone good, they should have no problem kicking her out of office.
she didn't win by a large margin, anyway.
http://www.governor.state.az.us/post/feedback.asp
This idiot needs to hear from us.
I think a lot of the Democrat voter base is voting illegally to begin with. The Democrats desperately need to keep the dead voters, illegal voters, duplicate voters, out-of-state voters etc.. to keep their dike in office, force their liberal agenda and block the conservative legislators.
"This is the first I have heard of this. Is there an article in a Phoenix newspaper you could link us to? I'm so sorry to hear this."
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0511copshot11.html
This is the url. Sorry, but I don't know how tbe html tag for this. (I don't know the html tag for anything.)
Officer Uribe was 48. His wife is a dispatcher and his son is also on the force. A lot of people know him and loved him.
Thank you for your expression of sympathy. I'll accept it on behalf of the people of metro Phoenix.
"Butch is a disaster, but the media cover for her and liberal "Republicans" are cozy with her."
Exactly. But when the most prominent GOP politician in the state is a turncoat, and many other Republicans want to open the border, it's hard to build a contrast with her.
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