Throwing down the gauntlet

As of the beginning of May 73% of those polled by Pew supported Arizona's new immigration law. Rasmussen reports that 55% of the public would support such a bill enacted in their state, and 69% support the law's provisions that allow law enforcement officers to enforce the federal laws. (The Rasmussen poll was conducted May 14-15.) So, it's pretty clear that the people of this nation have sounded off, and they like what Arizona did. As residents of Arizona, we applaud Governor Jan Brewer for signing this bill into law. (If you're like the LA City Council, President Barack Obama, DHS Secretary Janet "Incompetano" Napolitano, or Attorney General Eric Holder, and you haven't read the law, you can download it here. It's 17 pages long, and could be read, easily, while you're at lunch.)

So, what's the point of this post? Well, as you all know the LA City Council acted "stupidly," and voted to boycott the state of Arizona:

The City Council voted Wednesday to boycott Arizona businesses, making Los Angeles the largest city to take such action to protest the state's tough new law targeting illegal immigration.

The 13-1 vote, which came after emotional discussion in which several council members recounted their immigrant ancestors, was largely symbolic since only a small percentage of the city's business dealings are affected.

"An immigrant city, an international city, (Los Angeles) needs to have its voice heard," Councilman Ed Reyes said. "It is crucial this great city take a stand."

Of the $58 million in business the city of Los Angeles does with Arizona, only about $7.7 million could legally be dropped. So the boycott was largely symbolic, and akin to a child throwing a temper-tantrum because it didn't get the toy it wanted. (Additionally, the LA City Council apparently doesn't read the laws in the state of California because California has a law that is very similar to our own law, and it's a tad more strict as it makes illegal the so-called "sanctuary cities" like San Francisco.)

Needless to say, some of our lawmakers have gotten sick of this crap. Gary Pierce, one of the commissioners on the Arizona Corporation Commission has penned a letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa:

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).

You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.” (emphasis added)

I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.

If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.

People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Gary Pierce

We applaud Commissioner Pierce for this move, and unlike the LA City Council's mostly-empty threat to boycott Arizona, the Arizona Corporation Commission isn't kidding around. Under no circumstance should the state of Arizona be brow-beat to turn a blind eye to it's citizens. California has its fence constructed, and their illegal alien problem isn't nearly the problem that Arizona has. Additionally, they're not dealing with a drug war on their border that is spilling into their state where citizens and law enforcement are being shot and killed.

The federal government has dropped the ball badly on this problem, and we acted in our state's best interests. The state of California acted years ago by enacting 834B of the California Penal Code:

(a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. (b) With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following: (1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status. (2) Notify the person of his or her apparent status as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws and inform him or her that, apart from any criminal justice proceedings, he or she must either obtain legal status or leave the United States. (3) Notify the Attorney General of California and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the apparent illegal status and provide any additional information that may be requested by any other public entity. (c) Any legislative, administrative, or other action by a city, county, or other legally authorized local governmental entity with jurisdictional boundaries, or by a law enforcement agency, to prevent or limit the cooperation required by subdivision (a) is expressly prohibited.

California did as Arizona did years ago in enacting a law giving state law enforcement the ability to deal with illegal aliens, so as far as the LA City Council goes, they should rename themselves "hypocrisy." What is this, enforcement for me, but none for thee? I think not. And I'd also remind the LA City Council that the WaPo uncovered a 2002 DOJ memo that backs up the ability for state law enforcement personnel to enforce immigration laws; a fact that could make it difficult for Barry & Company to challenge the law in federal court.

This garbage has gone on long enough. The LA City Council has worked hard to make @$$es out of themselves, and now they're the laughingstock of the nation. Citizens in America, for the most part, support what Arizona has done. Lawmakers huffing and puffing about this would be wise to pay attention to the people. After all, we, the people can see November from our houses.

Publius II