Hispanic advocates declare law “divisive,” urge veto

 Gov. Janet Napolitano is being urged by Hispanic activists to veto legislation authorizing local police and sheriff’s agencies supervision of federal immigration law violations.

Members of Somos America have written Gov. Napolitano, saying the requirement increases racial profiling.

Somos America, which translates to We Are America, also called it “a divisive bill” that polarizes the state between “the pro-immigrant reformers and the anti-immigrant groups infiltrated by hate groups such as the neo-Nazis and KKK.” Napolitano has until the end of the day to decide whether to sign or veto it.

Somos America members object to provisions that law enforcement officers receive special federal training to allow them to enforce federal immigration laws

The Rev. Luz Santiago, pastor of Iglesia Puebla de Dios in Mesa, threatened Hispanic lawmakers who supported the bill, saying, “we’re the ones that can vote you out.”

The Arizona Daily Star covers the story here.

The Pachyderm Coalition Policy Committee Legislative rankings

The latest weekly update to the Republican Legislator ratings has been published and sent to us by Howard Levine, Policy Committee Chairman

Read this week’s report here.

Hard evidence that employer sanctions law is working

In two adjacent articles, the daily is engaged in a hand wringing frenzy over declining schools enrollments.

One article lays the blame on “changing neighborhoods and sinking housing prices.”

But the underlying reason for the declines according to the second article was…you guessed it: The state’s employer sanctions law is the culprit.

The upside of his phenomena is providing parents the smaller classes they have long desired for their children minus the intrusion of English language learners who hindered class progress.

As illegals self deport or move out of Arizona, some districts are losing elementary school age students. However, teens are reported to be staying behind when their families move, enabling the high schools to maintain consistent enrollment numbers.

Where those teens live and how they support themselves is anyone’s guess. Thoughts of bands of unskilled adolescents, roaming free without adult supervision conjures up far more disturbing images than declining enrollment.

Also of interest, it took 14 contributing reporters to get this story out. Remember when veteran reporters, working solo, could crank out a fact-laden news article in record time, minus grammatical and spelling errors?

Names and votes to remember when election day rolls around

Taxpayer’s friends and foes

Tom Jenney, Arizona Director of Americans for Prosperity has sent out this informative message, showing the names of state representatives and senators along with their votes for and against YOU.

The bad news is that Gov. Janet Napolitano’s veto of House Bill 2220 will likely result in the return of a $250 million property tax, for an average property tax increase of $100 per year for the Arizona homeowner. Combined with likely increases by city, county, and local special taxing districts, the Governor’s tax increase may contribute to significant increases in the overall property tax bills of home and business owners.

The silver lining in the cloud created by Napolitano is that there is still a small chance of repealing the $250 million state-imposed education equalization property tax, as a part of budget negotiations later in the legislative session.

In the House in March, 32 Arizona Representatives (31 Republicans and 1 Democrat) voted for the HB 2220 property tax relief bill.

These representatives voted FOR permanent property tax relief.

At the same time, 28 Representatives (26 Democrats and 2 Republicans) voted AGAINST giving relief to Arizona property taxpayers

This is the list of senators and their votes–both for and against the taxpayers.

Robb gets it right

Vindication of Rep. Russell Pearce

Robert Robb, a columnist for the daily newspaper, has written a masterful article acknowledging the correctness of Rep. Russell Pearce’s (R - Dist. 18) position regarding the unfeasibility of implementing a reliable “guest worker” program.

Robb also blows a hole in the tired, old argument that illegals are merely taking jobs Americans refuse to do. A visit to any construction site will quell that contention.

Do yourself a favor and take the time to read this excellent editorial: State guest worker program won’t work.

The Pachyderm Coalition Policy Committee Legislative rankings

The latest weekly update to the Republican Legislator ratings has been published and sent to us by Howard Levine, Policy Committee Chairman

Read this week’s report here.

Congratulations to Senator Thayer Verschoor for being the last legislator to still have a 100% score! He has been the last legislator standing (at 100%) for the past few weeks. Keep up the great work!

The Pachyderm Coalition Policy Committee Legislative rankings

The latest weekly update to the Republican Legislator ratings has been published and sent to us by Howard Levine, Policy Committee Chairman

Read this week’s report here.

Easing restrictions on carrying firearm without a CC permit

Concealed carry gun law moves through AZ legislature

The bill (HB 2630) reduces, from a class 1 misdemeanor to a petty offense, the penalty for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, unless the violation occurs in the commission or attempted commission of certain offenses.It now moves to the full senate.

The fact sheet is available here.

The Pachyderm Coalition Policy Committee Legislative rankings

The latest weekly update to the Republican Legislator ratings has been published and sent to us by Howard Levine, Policy Committee Chairman

Read this week’s report here.

The Pachyderm Coalition Policy Committee publishes legislator evaluations based on legislative actions taken as of last Friday. Evaluations are updated weekly throughout the legislative session.

CA considering defining pregnant women as ‘temporarily disabled’

Please, Arizona lawmakers: don’t emulate this lunacy from the Left Coast

Assemblyman Tony Strickland, whose previous legislative effort failed, said he still supports easing the strain on pregnant women. “Look, I’ve never had to carry around a 10-pound baby in my belly and walk every day,” he said. The legislation would apply to more than a half-million women who give birth every year in California.

Read the report from the Sacramento Bee.

A more rational view was expressed by the medical community. “We really want pregnant women to be active, to be moving, to be walking,” said Shannon Smith-Crowley of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ California chapter, which opposes AB 1940.