XPost: dc.urban-planning, wa.politics   
   From: mbarammier@asu.edu   
      
   PHOENIX - As national leaders rev up the debate on border   
   security and immigration reform, Arizona Democrats are fighting   
   a losing battle in the Legislature to reopen the discussion on   
   how this border state treats illegal immigrants.   
      
   Democratic lawmakers complain Arizona's tough immigration law is   
   an embarrassment to the state that hurts tourism and stifles   
   economic development.   
      
   But even they concede that efforts to repeal the 2010 law have   
   no chance in the Republican-led Legislature.   
      
   "They are telling us absolutely no," said state Sen. Steve   
   Gallardo, who is pushing a bill to overturn Senate Bill 1070 for   
   the second consecutive year. "I believe the vast majority of   
   Arizonans believe SB 1070 is the worst piece of legislation ever   
   passed.   
      
   Gallardo and State Representative John Kavanagh butted heads   
   briefly and somewhat comically outside the Senate building when   
   Gallardo interrupted his address to the press. Democrats are   
   trying to introduce bills in both the House and the Senate.   
      
   "Why not hear it?" asked Gallardo and Kavanagh pushed back   
   asking if Gallardo had suddenly become part of the press. “This   
   is the place to debate it," said Kavanagh. "It is not legitimate   
   legislation."   
      
   Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that three of   
   the four most contentious parts of the law were   
   unconstitutional, Republican leaders argue the law is good   
   policy and does what it is supposed to do -- go after illegal   
   immigrants.   
      
   "They lost. Get used to it. The people of America want a secure   
   border," Rep. John Kavanagh, one of the Republican leaders   
   behind the immigration law, told reporters outside the Senate   
   Thursday. "1070 delivered what it promised to deliver."   
      
   The most contentious part of Arizona's law required police to   
   question people's immigration status while enforcing other laws.   
   That provision was upheld by the Supreme Court.   
      
   Democrats hold little power in the Republican-led Legislature,   
   and they know it.   
      
   Gallardo joined several other Democratic and Hispanic lawmakers   
   at a news conference Thursday designed to bring their case   
   against the immigration law to the public.   
      
   Gallardo said GOP leaders won't let his bill be heard in   
   committee. House Rep.   
      
   Sally Ann Gonzales said her immigration reform bill wasn't even   
   assigned to a committee.   
      
   Both said they need the public's support to force debate at the   
   Legislature.   
      
   "We should not have to wait for these lawsuits," Gallardo said.   
   "Let's have this bill repealed now."   
      
   http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoen   
   ix/Arizona-Democrats-push-to-repeal-SB-1070   
      
   Get screwed beaner lovers.   
      
          
      
        
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)