Free Republic

A federal appeals court was urged Monday to overturn a voter approved Arizona law denying welfare and other benefits to illegal immigrants. A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, however, appeared inclined to leave intact the nation's only such law requiring state and local welfare workers to report suspected illegal immigrants to immigration officials.

PHOENIX Opponents of a law denying some public benefits to illegal immigrants are heading to court tomorrow to argue that one provision of Proposition 200 should no longer be enforced until its constitutionality is debated at trial.The Ninth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is hearing oral arguments on whether it should order the U-S District Court in Tucson to reverse its decision NOT to issue a preliminary injunction.If the court in Tucson orders the injunction, the part of the voter-approved law that denies some public benefits to illegal immigrants will stop being enforced until a trial is...

The Arizona Republic has come out saying that Prop. 200 has had a minimal impact on Arizona. But.......... Political fallout may loom large in '06 race Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said the legislative efforts to expand Proposition 200 were "badly written bills full of unintended consequences." L'Ecuyer pointed out that Napolitano did sign bills cracking down on human smugglers and undocumented immigrants who commit crimes in Arizona, as well as a bill denying public funding to day-labor centers If you want to read the full article, here's the link: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0605Immigration-illegal05.html

PHOENIX -- Backers of Proposition 200 filed legal papers Tuesday contending Gov. Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Terry Goddard "are destroying the Arizona initiative process." The Yes On Proposition 200 Committee seeks a ruling that their pair acted illegally in deciding by administrative fiat and legal opinion that illegal entrants remain entitled to many state benefits despite voter approval of the initiative in November. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge refused in March to expand the scope of Proposition 200 beyond the handful of programs Goddard said are affected. Attorney David Abney who represents the plaintiffs, now wants the Court...

PHOENIX - Backers of Proposition 200 filed legal papers Tuesday contending Gov. Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Terry Goddard "are destroying the Arizona initiative process." The Yes On Proposition 200 Committee seeks a ruling that their pair acted illegally in deciding by administrative fiat and legal opinion that illegal entrants remain entitled to many state benefits despite voter approval of the initiative in November. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge refused in March to expand the scope of Proposition 200 beyond the handful of programs Goddard said are affected. Attorney David Abney who represents the plaintiffs, now wants the Court...

PHOENIX - Gov. Janet Napolitano refused Friday to let state lawmakers expand Proposition 200. The governor vetoed legislation that would require proof of legal presence in the United States to enroll in adult education classes and get state-subsidized child care. HB 2030 also would have required those not here legally to pay the higher tuition at state universities and community colleges normally charged only to people who are not Arizona residents. Napolitano said it was that last provision that prompted the veto. "While I agree that public programs should not be available to those who consciously decide to come here...

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean was in Phoenix Wednesday but the state's top Democrat -- Gov. Janet Napolitano-- steered clear of the liberal bulldog during his Arizona visit. Dean addressed a rally hosted by the Young Democrats of Arizona and attended by state Democratic Party chairman Jim Pederson. Pederson is a shopping mall developer and is considering a challenge next year to GOP U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl. But the head of the Democratic ticket, Napolitano, was not at the Dean appearance and had no meetings scheduled with the former Vermont governor and vanquished 2004 presidential candidate. Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine...

Senator Gil Cedillo's bill to give California driver's licenses to illegal aliens is set to be heard in the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee this Thursday. Please take time today to contact the committee members and ask them to oppose this bill. more information available at www.saveourlicense.com email all of the committee members (except for Maldonado, Runner & Simitian who don't use public email addresses. Use our website to contact them.)

"If we went down to the Camelback Inn today in Phoenix and arrested everyone who’s working there illegally, the place would probably shut down," McCain was quoted as saying in The Hill, a nonpartisan newspaper covering politics in the nation’s capitol.

On May 12, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced companion guestworker amnesty bills, S. 1033 and H.R. 2330. The text of this legislation is not yet available, but here's what we've learned this legislation entails. Millions of currently resident illegal aliens would be permitted to buy guestworker status for a fee of $1,000. After the first three year term they could apply for three year extensions (for another $1000), and in the meantime, apply for green cards. After six years they would be eligible for permanent residency, which...

-- “Illegal Aliens should be rounded up and deported.” LONEGAN NEWS CONFERENCE TO PROTEST “DRIVING PRIVILEGE” LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS LODI -- Bogota Mayor and GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Lonegan will hold a news conference at 12 noon, Monday, May 16, 2005 to protest proposed “driving privilege” licenses so illegal aliens can drive cars “legally.” WHERE? Outside Lodi DMV, 8 Mill Street (off Garibaldi Ave.), Lodi WHEN? Noon, TODAY, Monday, May 16, 2005. WHAT? Lonegan will also urge State Republican Chairman Tom Wilson to withdraw his support for the “driving privilege” driver’s license for illegal aliens as expressed in a...

According to the FBI, every 14.6 seconds one burglary is committed in America. The primary reason behind this disturbing fact is that it remains illegal to take other people’s stuff. Even if you really, really need other people’s stuff to enjoy a better life for you and your children, you are not “supposed” to take it under current rules. But what choice do tens of thousands of Americans have? Likewise, there are millions of items that –when new and un-stolen-- have prices that most Americans are simply not willing to pay. We all benefit from theft, yet it remains illegal....

Taking illegals for a spin I got a press release the other day from one of those liberal interest groups. The release called for New Jersey to start issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens.......Following is the release. Notice how the writer artfully makes a radical idea seem acceptable to mainstream Americans. I am an expert in decoding political spin, so I have put in brackets my explanations of just how the spin doctor operates. Here goes: "The REAL ID Act of 2005 has now been passed by both houses of Congress and is poised for the President's signature. New Jersey...

Hillary gets it. Hillary Clinton says she's against illegal immigration. And she would fine employers who hire illegal aliens. Pundits say the New York Democrat is using this hot-button issue to position herself for the 2008 presidential election. It's a way to hit Republicans from the right. Polls show huge majorities of both Republicans and Democrats oppose illegal immigration -- and are frustrated that President Bush won't do a thing to stop it. But this issue does not belong to the right. Or it shouldn't. Illegal immigration hurts most liberal causes. It depresses wages, crushes unions and kills all hope...

Local News Graf plans to face Kolbe again in 2006 BY BILL HESS Wednesday, April 27, 2005 2:04 PM MDT Herald/Review SIERRA VISTA - With a little than 16 months before the next congressional primary, former state Rep. Randy Graf will officially throw his hat into the Republican ring this week. Graf, of Green Valley, said Tuesday that he wants to have more time to raise money for his campaign against Republican incumbent Jim Kolbe for the Congressional District 8 seat. "We got a late start last time," Graf told the Herald/Review, referring to the 2004 primary campaign. On Thursday,...

PHOENIX - Gov. Janet Napolitano said Friday she might veto the state's entire $8.2 billion budget over a dispute with the Republican-controlled Legislature on funding to teach English. A veto would force the Legislature, which adjourned about 1:15 Friday morning after 123 days, to return in a special session. Napolitano said the budget deal negotiated with the GOP leadership a week earlier included an "understanding" that Republicans "would sit down and negotiate a Flores resolution with the Democrats." That refers to a 14-year-old lawsuit in which a federal judge ruled Arizona was not meeting its legal obligation to provide adequate...

Pima County election officials have been forced to reject an unprecedented number of voter registration forms because of failure to provide proof of citizenship. Registrar of Voters Chris Roads said that over the last two weeks, the county has rejected 423 of the 712 registration forms it has received from prospective new voters, 59% of them. "We rejected none during the same period last year," when six times as many people were registering because of the presidential election, Roads said. "There was nothing in the law that required a rejection."

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...

Marilyn Quayle is talking to top Arizona Republicans regarding a possible run for governor next year, sources tell The Business Journal. Mrs. Quayle -- an attorney and the wife of former vice president Dan Quayle -- has had recent meetings with Republican congressional members and top party leaders regarding a challenge to incumbent Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. Top state and national Republicans and some of their business allies are heavily recruiting Quayle or Surgeon General Richard Carmona for a run against Napolitano. Quayle and Carmona are considered the GOP's best shots at knocking off Napolitano next year. Several other top...

Stricter immigration laws now on the books in Arizona that require elections officials to check for proof of citizenship have uncovered thousands of new registrants who don't qualify to vote. According to the Arizona Daily Star, state election officials credit the citizenship requirement contained in Proposition 200, the illegal-immigration initiative passed last November, for screening out the illegal voters. In Arizona's Prima County alone, elections officials have rejected 59 percent of all applicants in the last two weeks - or 423 of the 712 new registrants. "We rejected none during the same period last year," when six times as many...