Tucson, Arizona Friday, 7 February 2003
By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
PHOENIX - Amid claims of racism, state lawmakers moved on two fronts Thursday to determine what identification Arizonans must produce to get government services or exercise their right to vote.
The House Committee on Federal Mandates and Property Rights approved HB 2316, which precludes any government agency from accepting any form of identification other than one issued by a state or federal agency that is independently verifiable. Rep. Randy Graf, R-Green Valley, is pushing that measure to block the decision by some cities such as Tucson to recognize ID cards issued by the Mexican consul for everything from filing police reports and getting city vending licenses to obtaining library cards.
Separately, the House Judiciary Committee voted 9-3 to mandate that people who show up at the polls must show either a picture identification with an address or two other forms of identification to cast a ballot. Rep. Linda Gray, R-Glendale, said HB 2345 is necessary to prevent voter fraud.
Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, said new requirements for people who may not have a state-issued driver's license could have a "chilling effect" on minority voter turnout. Gray said she had no evidence that people are turning out to vote who are not eligible.
Prescott resident Bob Park, a supporter of moves to curb illegal entrants, said there is nothing wrong with requiring that those who want government services provide a form of identification that can be verified.
"What we find across the country is a terrible, massive, pervasive industry out there to provide fraudulent documents," Park said. He is founder of the Article IV Section 4 Foundation, named after the section of the U.S. Constitution that requires the federal government to protect states against invasion.
Graf said people who are not U.S. citizens should not be getting government services funded by taxpayers.
But Steve Brittle, a Phoenix community activist, said he sees something more sinister. "The underlying thing here is racism," he said.