Don't you think ALL states should do the same?

Change Type Size Petitions target immigration
Group seeks tougher Arizona laws against illegal migrants
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 28, 2007 12:00 AM

Saying that they will do what the government has failed to do, a group of citizens spearheaded by a lawmaker and a former gubernatorial candidate on Tuesday launched twin petition drives to create tougher immigration laws in Arizona.

One measure is aimed at punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal workers. The second would require police agencies to enforce federal immigration laws.

The dual measures are aimed at the November 2008 statewide ballot. But they are also targeted at legislators and Gov. Janet Napolitano, who initiative backers feel are roadblocks to tougher immigration laws. advertisement




Lawmakers are debating bills that would essentially accomplish what the two initiatives propose.

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said he is hopeful that an employer-sanctions bill will pass this year, but he is worried that Napolitano will veto it. She vetoed a similar bill last year, saying it was weak and created "amnesty" for employers who are found to have illegal workers on the payroll.

The petition drive will serve as an insurance policy in case legislative efforts fail. Pearce declined to comment on what he would do with the petition drives if his legislative efforts succeed at the Statehouse.

"Let's visit that when it happens," he said.

Supporters have until July 2008 to gather more than 153,000 signatures of registered voters to qualify each of the measures for the 2008 ballot.

On Tuesday, they passed out petitions and called for manpower and financial support to make the drives a success. Groups backing the measure include the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, the neighborhood group NAIL'EM and the Hispanic group You Don't Speak for Me.

Don Goldwater, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor last fall, said the petition drives are consistent with the themes he ran on last year.

"Guess what?" he asked a boisterous crowd on the lawn of the state House of Representatives. "You don't have to be an elected official to keep your word to Arizona."

Goldwater is leading the Support Legal Arizona Workers drive, which would create employer sanctions.

Pearce is heading the Support Our Law Enforcement effort, to require police to enforce federal immigration law.

"I believe handcuffs are a great tool, when they're on the right people," Pearce said. It's time, he added, to take the handcuffs off law enforcement and put them on lawbreakers.

it's time the legal people demanded this.

So far, only 15 state have....It is important that elected officials see to American interests first! Tancredo for President...

Another reason I love my state of Arizona. We are always trying to right ,wrongs.
Since we are on the front line of the illegal alien battle ,who better to understand and try to "fix" the problem?

no

We must demand that congress to do something about this invasion. Unfortunately Congress doesn't give a crap about what WE want.