Posted on 05/17/2006 8:09:13 PM PDT by SandRat
Democrat Gov. Janet Napolitano on Wednesday criticized the Republican-led Legislature's push to pass a sweeping bill to bolster border security and counter illegal immigration.
The bill awaited a House vote after being approved by the Senate on Tuesday.
Napolitano said Wednesday that legislators should have paused their consideration of the bill to review actions being taken at the federal level.
Those include President Bush's decision to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to support the Border Patrol along the U.S. Mexico border.
While legislative leaders said they wanted to negotiate an immigration bill that Napolitano would sign, "they have not negotiated an immigration bill and moreover they moved to this bill without waiting for the President to illuminate us as to what additional federal resources are coming," she said. "It seems to me they are still playing politics with the immigration issue. We'll see what the House does."
Even if the House approves the bill as-is, its transmission to Napolitano could be delayed to allow lawmakers to negotiate possible changes that could be made in subsequent legislation, said Barrett Marson, a spokesman for House Republicans.
Napolitano specifically singled out the state bill's $50 million appropriation over two years to acquire radar to detect illegal crossings. The federal government already has some radar along the border and is acquiring more.
"Once we start spending state money, we will never be reimbursed," she said.
Other elements of the $160 million measure would pay for sending National Guard troops to the border, criminalize illegal immigrants' presence in Arizona, bar illegal immigrants from receiving certain public services and impose new sanctions on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Napolitano has vetoed several bills containing earlier versions of several provisions in the past two years, including the trespassing change and the National Guard funding.
Arizona is the nation's busiest point for illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border, and illegal immigration has emerged as a potent election-year issue.
Len Munsil, a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, called on the Legislature to act on border enforcement and for Napolitano to sign it.
"Her effort to stop the Legislature from taking action on border security is simply more evidence that she still not take this issue seriously," Munsil said
Bookies say Nappy will vetoe the bill.
Ugh, I hate her so much.
I can't wait to see her lose the upcoming election.
She's so worthless. I wish she would just let prop 200 go into effect and quit supporting illegal immigration.
Why is it that these dumb-o-crats always, always oppose everything I am for...without exception?!
She's taking it very seriously.
We see a illegal immigrant problem, while she sees thousands of new potential voters.
Illegal aliens are a big part of her voter base in Arizona. I can see why this would get her panties in a knot.
I don't even want to think of her panties in any way.
LOL! I know what you mean. You must live in Arizona too!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.