Weekly Report

Well, we didn't hear from the judge in the Flores/ELL case and my bills still didn't get a hearing in Senate Judiciary. Maybe this week will be better.

While Washington dithers about meaningful action on illegal immigration, then goes on a two week recess, we're still trying to do some useful things here in Arizona. Leadership is still committed to putting hi-tech radar on the border to alert ICE to movements there so they can better use the resources they have. We'd still like to see Gov. Napolitano use the National Guard for border security. And the budget being discussed directs funding to local agencies along the border to ease some of the burden they are shouldering.

The House also passed the Senate bill which initially made illegal border crossing a felony, but was amended down to a misdemeanor. I did not vote in favor of this measure. One of the primary reasons that I did not was that it seemed a meaningless gesture. No one actually believed that local law enforcement was going to take any action based on this law, even if it was not vetoed by the Governor (highly unlikely). Even with the additional funding, they simply don't have the resources or space to hold those detained. I believe we should stay with plans that will be effective and not just keep passing bills that make it seem like we're doing something, anything, to solve the problem.

Also in the preliminary budget is more funding for transportation needs, a definite priority for our area. Right now we're looking at about $250M -- that's additional to what is provided in the baseline budget. We're also committed to $250M in tax reductions, divided between property and income tax relief. All of this is still being negotiated among the Republican caucus members, whose input is (and has been) requested by leadership. More will be done on the budget this week, and I hope to be able to report more specifics next time.

I won't be home in Mohave County this coming weekend. Instead I'll be traveling to Page for their annual "Page Attacks Trash" cleanup day on April 22nd. This will be a good opportunity to visit with the folks in the far corner of District 3 and catch up with what's going on there.

Until next week,

Nancy