The Command Post - Politics & Elections - Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano Faces Backlash For Vetoing Illegal Immigration Bills

June 03, 2005

United States | Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano Faces Backlash For Vetoing Illegal Immigration Bills

Having vetoed nearly 60 bills in her term, including some key bills to cut benefits and the flow of illegal aliens into the state, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is facing a political backlash that could cost her re-election in 2006. The nearly 60 vetoes is the most by any Governor in the states history.

Bills she has vetoed include one denying in-state tuition and day care for illegal aliens and one allowing law enforcement to enforce immigration law on May 20. On May 10 she also vetoed a bill making English the official state language which would have allowed the state to save money by not having to provide all official documents in multiple languages and would have encourage assimilating immigrants into the American culture more effectively.

She also vetoed a bill that would have officially rejected the Matricula Consular from Mexico as a valid form of identification which an FBI official has said are "easy to forge" and a "major item on the product list of fraudulent document trade currently flourishing across the country and around the world.".

Knoxstudio

Napolitano said none of those bills would have solved immigration-related issues. She added that the immigration law enforcement bill did not include federal funding, so it would have cost the state millions of dollars.
"She is going to regret it," said Kathy McKee, founder of Protect Arizona Now. Her group played a major role in the passage of Proposition 200, which denies many public benefits to undocumented immigrants.
Kat Rodriguez, Tucson's Coalicion de Derechos Humanos coordinator , said Napolitano sent a strong message by not giving in to anti-immigrants while recognizing that "these bills would've been destructive to our community."
The coalition, however, regretted Napolitano's signing of a bill that prohibits use of taxpayer money for the construction of day-labor centers. She approved the legislation the same day she vetoed the most recent anti-immigrant bills.
"Day laborers won't go away," Rodriguez said, stressing the centers provide the workers some protection from exploitation.

It should be an interesting election in Arizona in 2006.

Originally posted at Diggers Realm

Posted by Digger at June 3, 2005 07:19 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Recalling governors can be done ...

Posted by: Achillea at June 3, 2005 09:41 AM

And, we've done it before. Granted it won't happen with Janet (I don't think) but, she's been hailed as the Demo's best hope for a Senate seat or possibly a VP position. This just sort of, kind of and happily lets some overheated air out of the balloon.

Posted by: Arizona Mike at June 3, 2005 08:08 PM

She's convening an immigration summit. Perhaps with enough pressure it might actually result in something rather than just being for show.

Posted by: BigMediaBlog at June 8, 2005 01:45 AM

I think she has plans to do something else rather than to seek re-election as governor. I live in Arizona and have watched what she has done over the past few years and believe me, she will be out next term. Over the past two weeks, polls have been taken over the state of the State. Unofficially, it looks like only one in 10 will vote her back into office. Given a +/- 3% error, at best she will only get 30% of the vote.
For once I can totally agree with President Bush. If the Mexican people want to come to the U.S., let them go through the proper procedure to do so instead of coming in illegally. You can bet your butt that if we tried to get into Mexico illegally, we would be shot on sight. If they come in legally, then THEIR taxes will help pay for all the services that we pay now for them. If we all put our tax money in the pot, then we are all paying for each other instead of a select few paying everything for illegal aliens. In any event, Janet is out. She can bow out gracefully and try for a Senate seat, or we can vote her out.

Posted by: BH57 at June 28, 2005 03:49 PM

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