10-26-2004, 10:22 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Sleepy Head
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Proposition 200 -- 2004 Arizona Ballot Initiative
Prop 200 has become the most contreversial ballot measure this election year here in Arizona. I figured I'd post this here and see what you all think of this. If it passes, it's supposedly going to be the catalyst for other states to pass similar measures. Here is the gist of the initiative as posted on another website:
Quote:
* The Proposition 200 ("Protect Arizona Now") voter initiative was conceived and directed by Arizona residents. The diverse sponsors include local officials, civic leaders, businessmen, and conservationists. FAIR and other immigration reform organizations supported signature-gathering efforts to help put Proposition 200 on the 2004 ballot.
* Arizona's illegal alien population is now estimated to be about 500,000. The annual cost of providing public benefits to illegal aliens living in Arizona now exceeds $1 billion, or $700 a year per household. Section 2 of the initiative states that illegal immigration is causing economic hardship, contradicts federal policy, undermines border security, and demeans the value of citizenship.
* Proposition 200 Sections 3 and 4 require new voters to document their U.S. citizenship when they register to vote. Section 5 requires voters to present a photo ID at the polling place. These measures will protect the integrity of the voter rolls against corruption and fraud. Section 6.A.3 prohibits public agencies from accepting insecure identification cards to show eligibility for public benefits, unless the issuing agency has verified the immigration status of the cardholder.
* Section 6.A.4 requires state and local government employees who discover a violation of federal immigration law to make a written report to federal immigration authorities.
* Proposition 200 will not change the types of benefits that are denied to illegal aliens. Federal law already defines the types of state or local benefits for which lawful immigration status is required. These include grants, contracts, loans and licenses and any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, unemployment benefit, or similar benefit for which assistance is provided by appropriated funds of a State or local government.
* The procedures for verification of eligibility that will be required under Proposition 200 comply with federal regulations known as the SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement) system. Arizona has used the SAVE system to verify eligibility for federally-funded benefit programs since 1999.
* Illegal aliens cannot be denied access to benefits that are exempted from verification by federal law. These programs include K-12 education, emergency health care, immunization programs, in-kind disaster relief, emergency food assistance, federal school lunch programs, and public services that are necessary to protect life or safety.
* Eligibility for state benefits and services will be determined solely by verification of an applicant's identity or immigration and nationality documents. Proposition 200 Section 6.C creates additional protections against discrimination not found in other federal or state law. Advocates for illegal aliens gain a new right to sue any government agency that discriminates in the verification process in state court.
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