Arizona has endured economic boycotts and legal challenges to its recent controversial anti-immigrant laws but the state’s legislature is not backing down from attempts to further curb illegal immigration in the state. This week a legislative committee proposed a bill that would challenge the automatic U.S. citizenship of the children of undocumented immigrants and scheduled the consideration of another bill that would force hospitals to confirm citizenship for non-emergency patients. Another bill was proposed by Senate President Russell Pearce of SB 1070 fame that would toughen requirements for employers to check the eligibility of new hires and tighten ID requirements for school enrollment. This bill would also make it a crime for someone who is in this U.S. illegally to drive in Arizona. Senator Pearce says these laws mostly pertain to “taxpayer stuff,” meaning they prevent people living in Arizona illegally from receiving the benefits of public programs.
Guest:
Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Democratic member of the Arizona State Senate, where she represents the 15th district (central Phoenix); she previously served three terms in the Arizona House of Representatives from January 2005 to January 2011
Rep. John Kavanagh, Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives, District 8, which covers most of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Tonto Verde and Rio Verde