Tucson, Arizona Tuesday, 19 August 2003
By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
PHOENIX - Some Republican state lawmakers want a state audit to determine whether
people who are not here legally are affecting Arizona elections.
At a press briefing Monday, 17 legislators came out in opposition to an initiative
designed to cut down on illegal border crossers.
The initiative would mandate proof of legal status for many government services
and require positive identification at the polls.
Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, said he does not believe the initiative will
do anything to cut the flow of illegal entrants.
He and the 16 others instead said they support a federal guest worker program,
such as legislation being sponsored by U.S. Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake and
U.S. Sen. John McCain, all of Arizona.
The 17 join other Republicans, including the state's delegation of federal lawmakers
and the state party chief, in opposing the initiative.
What is new is that this group promises to introduce legislation to get a review
of state voting. State Rep. Tom O'Halleran, R-Sedona, said that will determine
whether additional restrictions are needed before someone can cast a ballot.
But four of the six lawmakers who oppose the initiative and now want the audit
are already on record as voting for a plan virtually identical to the initiative
that was approved by the Legislature earlier this year.
The only thing that kept that plan, sponsored by Glendale Rep. Linda Gray, from
becoming law was a veto by Gov. Janet Napolitano.
"We have no proof there is a problem," acknowledged Konopnicki, one
who supported the Gray measure.
He explained his vote in support of the Gray bill as being "proactive,
rather than reactive … to prevent the possibility there might be voter
fraud."
But Konopnicki sidestepped questions of whether his acknowledgment that no proof
exists of a problem supports the position of Napolitano and most legislative
Democrats that the bill was unneeded.
"This is not really a partisan issue, as it is protecting Arizonans, protecting
citizens," he said.
Republican Reps. Clancy Jayne of Phoenix and Carol Hubbs of Sun City West, who
also came out in support of the audit Monday, also voted for Gray's bill last
session.
But GOP Reps. Pete Hershberger of Tucson and Mark Thompson of Tempe were opposed
to the failed bill.
Phoenix car dealer Rusty Childress, one of the initiative organizers, said the
lawmakers are misguided - or worse.
He said a federal guest worker program does not address the issue but simply
provides a way for those here illegally to get legal status.
Childress suggested that the GOP lawmakers who are opposing the initiative may
be more interested in ensuring the re-election of President Bush, who has made
an active effort to court Hispanic voters.
Flake, who also is opposed to the initiative, said he does not buy the argument
by initiative backers that it is the lure of government services that results
in illegal immigration.
"People come across because there are jobs here," Flake said.
The spat over whether people not here legally are voting is the focus of a lawsuit
now pending in Cochise County Superior Court.
Alice Novoa-Benson, an unsuccessful candidate for justice of the peace from
Douglas, wants last year's vote set aside.
Novoa-Benson said she has evidence that people voted who were neither registered
nor even citizens.
A court hearing on the lawsuit is set for today before Judge James Conlogue.