Posted on 07/09/2010 2:09:00 PM PDT by SandRat
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords didn't retract her opposition to SB 1070 Thursday, but said it has already served its purpose by grabbing the federal government's attention.
If the federal government had been enforcing its own immigration laws, there would be no need for the state's divisive new immigration-enforcement law, she told about 200 people from the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Greater Tucson Leadership.
Giffords also said it's ironic U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder filed a suit against the state, saying Arizona shouldn't intrude on the federal government's responsibility. If federal officials had the border under control, "we wouldn't be here. No lawsuit. No SB 1070," she said.
Most important, the border needs to be secured, and the bill does nothing toward that end, she said.
In Washington, D.C., people regularly ask what is wrong with Arizona, Giffords said. "I tell my colleagues we're not crazy, we just want the federal government to do its job."
Giffords made several other points about the border and related issues, including:
• The immigration debate has diverted the public's attention from the economy, which depends on a better education system to generate higher-paying jobs. The more good jobs America creates, the less employers will rely on immigrants here on special work visas to fill those positions.
• A "tough" path to citizenship, but not blanket amnesty, needs to be part of immigration reform.
When the country really begins working through immigration problems, blanket amnesty will not work, she said, citing a 1986 immigration plan that gave citizenship to those who had been in the country for four years.
"We have set the standard that citizenship will be granted here with a mass amnesty," she said.
• To bring Washington up to speed with Arizona's immigration issues, Giffords said she has taken many trips to the border with other elected officials and members of the Obama administration, and hosts a regular telephone meeting between border ranchers and chairs of key House committees.
Greater Tucson Leadership hosts an annual federal-issues discussion, and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce joined the group this year to ask Giffords to address immigration.
"It's important, as the local business community, to continue to engage with our federal representatives. We need to keep them engaged," said Lea Márquez Peterson, president of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
AZ SB-1070 Ping
Tucson business that hate SB-1070 you decide what to do.
Nearly 90 local business owners are showing thei resistance to SB 1070 through the “We Mean Business” campaign. They include:
Alejandro’s Café
American Apparel
Antigone Books
Artists at Work
Autoglass Distributors Inc.
Baja Mar: Mariscos y Cahuamanta
Bangkok Café
Bentley’s House of Coffee and Tea
BK’s
Brooklyn Pizza Company
Cafe Passe
Chavez Leather-Fabric Upholstery
Computer Connection
The Coyote Wore Sideburns
Dan Chava Tortillas de Harina
Delectables
Dulceria BET-EL
El Barrio Market
El Rio Bakery
El Sabroso Oakwood Grill
El Tingon Tire Shop
Epic Cafe
Fiesta Market
Five Points Flowers
Food Spot Market: Chinese Deli
4th Avenue Hair
Gallery 2402 LLC
Glass Bottom Smoke Emporium
Grupo Natural
Guillermo’s Double L Restaurant
Headliners Barber Shop
Heithaus Productions
Inkaholics Anonymous
The Insurance House
Kababeque Indian Grill
La Fresita
La Iguana Art Gallery
La Indita
La Palma Bakery
Las Cuatas
Lee’s Store/Bargain Warehouse
Little Blessings Day Care
The Magic Fun Store
Mariscos Chihuahua
Martin’s Comida Chingona
MC Title Service
Mexican Garden Pottery
Nam Son Restaurant
Netto’s Auto Clinic
Oop’s Hot Dogs
Pan Left Productions
Pancho Villa’s Grill
Pass It On
Philabaum Glass Studio & Gallery
Pollo Feliz
Pop-Cycle
Preen
REA Communications
Red Sky Studio
Revolutionary Grounds
R-Galaxy
Rogue Parlour Tattoo
Roses and More
Santa Rita Suds
2nd Life Video Games
Shot in the Dark Café
6th Ave Stylez
Sky Bar
Sonora Snow Cones
Southern Arizona Barber College
Spring Nail Salon
Susy’s Hair Design
Tania’s Flour Tortillas
Taco Shop Co LLC
Threads And More Thrift Shop
Tierra Stone Products
Totally Kids Furniture
Tortilleria Dona Esperanza
Vacman Vacuums and Carpets
Voices Inc.
Wig-O-Rama
The Wooden Tooth/Bohemia’s/Ventana Gallery
YWCA Tucson
Zachary’s Pizza
Zendejas 13
“If the federal government had been enforcing its own immigration laws, there would be no need for the state’s divisive new immigration-enforcement law,
she told about 200 people from the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Greater Tucson Leadership.”
It’s not “divisive”.
AZ state law in PERFECT HARMONY with current FEDERAL LAW. It now brings it down to the STATE LEVEL since the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is NOT enforcing the same law.
Typical F’ing politician. I’m on your side. See I am condemning the Feds. See I oppose the legislation. I think the legislation was necessary, but it has served it’s purpose. She thinks this is Marijuana not the sovereignty of our nation. Politicians go to the hippie rally and say they fought hard make pot legal, but the best they could do was take the teeth out of the law. They go to the church group and say, I fought real hard to keep pot illegal and this is the best we could do. The rest of the time the blame the cops for enforcing the law or not. This is exactly the kind of politician that needs ridden out of town on a rail.
This goof is my congresscritter, and she has been in lockstep with Pelosi since the day she was sworn in. Her new found religion about securing the border will last long enough to get her reelected and then we’ll never hear another word about it.
As for her tough path to citizenship, we already have one. Come here with a passport and a visa, and wait your turn like the millions of legal immigrants that came before you.
Ping!
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