“Senator Pearce and his colleagues are to be commended,” said Bachmann, a U.S. representative from Minnesota, referring to Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa. “They have had to pick up where the federal government has left off; they have to secure the safety and economic security of the people they represent.”
Bachmann met behind closed doors at the State Capitol with Pearce and several other GOP lawmakers, as well as U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., and Cochise County Sheriff Larry A. Dever.
At a news conference afterward, she declined to say what the group discussed but thanked Pearce for leading the charge for SB 1070, which, among other provisions, requires local police to check the immigration status of suspects. With the law’s strictest provisions blocked in federal court, Gov. Jan Brewer has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I don’t dis’ this law; I thank this law,” Bachmann said.
She also applauded a law authorizing the state to raise money and use inmate labor to construct fencing along the border but said it’s really the federal government’s responsibility.
“The failure of the federal government to secure that border has put undue pressure on the state’s and local budgets,” Bachmann said.
Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, the law’s author, was among those who met with Bachmann and introduced her as a leader in the fight against illegal immigration. He and other supporters are in the process of raising private donations for the project.
“You need the political horsepower for the president to actually stand up and say, ‘It’s my job,’ and allocate the funds,” he said. “Otherwise Arizona gets to work at it.”
Senate Minority Leader David Schapira, D-Tempe, who didn’t attend the session, said that while he agrees the federal government should do more he doesn’t consider Bachmann a leader on the issue.
“She as a member of Congress has not been a part of solving this problem,” he said.
Rachel Jimenez is a reporter for Cronkite News Service.
A_Rose_By_Any_Other_Name posted at 8:58 am on Fri, Oct 21, 2011.
Recall Pearce? The election is a few weeks away, but happy thought any way Cerulean. Parts of the bill didn't pass the California legal test, but you can be sure it will when it hits the United States Supreme Court. Sheriff Babeu is right when he says it would be better enforced by ICE agents, but the ICE agents can't do this under a federal government that encourages your little brothers to sneak across the border and rob America. We just love reading your posts Cerulean. They always give us a moment of laughter in an otherwise monotonous days schedule. Keep us amused.
Cerulean posted at 3:44 pm on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
Bachmann thanked Recall Pearce for leading the charge on a bill that did not pass the legal test. A law that sheriff Babeu said would be better enforced by ICE agents.
TeaPartyPatriot posted at 6:28 am on Thu, Oct 20, 2011.
The federal government has failed the entire nation, but then that's what they are in DC to do. Anyone But Obama. I would vote for peter cottontail before I would vote for a socialist that wishes to fundamentally change the greatest nation in the history of the world.
Masterrogue666 posted at 7:46 am on Wed, Oct 19, 2011.
I vote based upon that candidate's position on issues that concern me. The person's race or gender isn't a factor to me. Those that aren't afraid to make their position know, knowing they'd lose a few votes, speaks volumes to me.
If she's selected, I'd vote for her. Obama made TOO MANY promises, so I knew what he said was nothing but lies....
savoy54 posted at 8:32 pm on Tue, Oct 18, 2011.
mine too
Juggernaut6000 posted at 1:38 am on Tue, Oct 18, 2011.
She has just earned my vote.