How
Quickly They Forget The state of California, several cities within California and cities around the country are decrying the “hateful” nature of Arizona’s law SB1070. Have memories truly faded, or is this just a case of selective amnesia? In 1994 the state of California, by a 58.9% ‘YES’ to 41.1% ‘NO’ vote passed Proposition 187. Prop. 187 explicitly asserted the State of California would not provide social services (medical, educational, welfare, etc.) to anyone illegally in the United States. Furthermore, those working in the social services fields were required to notify authorities of anyone using or applying for services whom they suspected were in the country illegally. Law enforcement officials were to inquire into immigration status of any persons under arrest if suspicion existed regarding legal status in the United States. This provision is Section 834(b) of the California Penal Code, which is still on the books by the way. Controversy swirled, and a Federal Court issued a temporary injunction staying enactment. A permanent injunction followed, and then a lone Federal Judge held most provisions of Prop. 187 unconstitutional. There is some contention the court actually ruled the provisions “unenforceable” due to a finding that immigration is a Federal matter. California Governor Pete Wilson championed Prop. 187, engaging in lengthy court battles while in office. The election of Gray Davis, replacing Pete Wilson, found a man unwilling to fight despite promises during his campaign to continue court battles on behalf of Prop. 187. Proposition 187 died in 1999 simply because a single Federal Court Judge’s rulings were not appealed to even the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals—let alone the U.S. Supreme Court. Many believed the U.S. Supreme Court would ultimately have overturn lower court rulings, finding Prop. 187 to be constitutional. Everyone needs to remind those who want to inflict economic retribution on Arizona, that California, who smugly spews degrading remarks at Arizona, did it first. Sixteen years ago California enacted laws far broader and extensive than Arizona’s SB1070. A single Judge stopped the vote of over 5 million Californians. California politicians could not even finish what the populace started and simply walked away without even trying to follow the “will of the people”. California has a lot of gall to label Arizona racist, xenophobic, etc. for passing a law authorizing Law Enforcement officers to simply inquire about immigration status after already making a legal contact. And today California pays the price. The illegal alien population has risen markedly since 1994. The state faces bankruptcy. Education costs have skyrocketed. Numerous hospital emergency rooms have closed due to unpaid bills left by illegal aliens. Over half the births in the Los Angeles area are to mothers illegally in the United States--and paid for by California taxpayers. In Los Angeles almost two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants are for illegals. California prisons are populated with illegal aliens. Businesses and tired taxpayers leave daily. Arizona needs to learn a lesson from California. We, the citizens of Arizona, cannot simply give up. Phoenix is the kidnap capitol of the country. Arizona ranchers along the Southern border have been killed and others live in constant worry about their safety. Arizona’s well known budgetary problems are due in large part to expenses in education, health care and prison expenditures. All these issues are related to aliens here illegally. Will those problems get better if Arizona rescinds SB1070? What did all those now complaining about SB1070 do to solve these problems BEFORE Gov. Brewer signed the bill into law? Has California fared better because Prop. 187 has not been enforced? |
