AUSTIN - Four U.S. border governors — two Republican, two Democratic, all exasperated at Washington — concluded a conference with their Mexican counterparts Friday by urging federal leaders to "do your part" and pass comprehensive immigration reform before year's end.
"This is a very important message to the federal government to get their act together," said California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He and fellow Republican Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and Democratic Govs. Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Bill Richardson of New Mexico signed the letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert. It urges the federal leaders to pass legislation "that secures the border, protects taxpayers and restores the rule of law by practically dealing with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country."