When I wrote a few weeks back about the Arizona legislature dropping the Kid’s Care health program, it seemed an odd way to balance a budget. The program encouraged people to take low paying jobs rather than resort to welfare, and the costs, once provided by the program, of their children’s health care would simply be born elsewhere without the 75% kick in from the federal government that Kid’s Care enjoyed. At the time, I didn’t mention shutting down most of the state’s rest areas on its long stretches of lonely desert highways, inconveniencing tourists and leaving long haul truckers with no place to pull over and rest for the safety of all.
Little did I know the Arizona legislature was just getting started with its proof positive that bizarre legislative priorities would be the legacy of state representatives and Senators too long baked, or half baked, in the sun. Since the flummoxing surrounding the budget, Arizona has stepped up to: allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit, adopted a birther law requiring candidates for the presidency to produce a birth certificate in order to appear on the Arizona ballot [notwithstanding their being the nominee of a recognized Arizona party or that presidential elections are the province of the federal government], and passing an anti-immigrant law that blatantly endorses racial profiling.
That last one requires law enforcement to verify the legal status of anyone “suspected” of not being legally in the country, i.e. looks “Mexican” or speaks with an accent. White English-speakers may proceed about their business without fear. Others, not so much. By the way, there was no mention of the cost of this in budget-strapped Arizona as compared to, say, Kid’s Care or keeping rest stops open.
Let’s put those last two examples of legislative genius together. A bill requiring a black president to provide a birth certificate (oh sure, the white candidate will present his/hers too, but that’s not who the target is and we all know it) and a bill requiring law enforcement to check out those with brown skin and an accent. Does anyone smell a common theme? Any accusation of hidden racist motive will, of course, be immediately denied.
Now this. Apparently inspired by the actions of the Arizona legislature and Governor Jan Brewer, one of America’s fine militia movements is offering to provide military training to its members and volunteer its services as a vigilante border patrol service. The “private military unit” is the brainchild of Bill Davis, whose militia has been in place for a decade. He told the Arizona Daily Star, “…we’re not about to step aside anymore and let them through. We’re going to turn them around and send them back scared.”
But, not to worry. When confronted with possible concerns like illegal detentions, unnecessary violence and interference with U. S. Border Patrol, Mr. Davis mentioned that the U. S. Border Patrol doesn’t show up in time. He also reassured Arizonans about the quality of his “private army”, telling the Arizona Star that his troops were not a rag-tag bunch of wannabes but rather that, “They all have confirmed kills, from Vietnam or later on.”
And how has Arizona’s (budget concerned) legislature responded to the proposal? From UPI, “A bill has been introduced in the state legislature that would pay the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department $200,000 to form and equip a volunteer border-security force.”
Is further editorial comment really necessary?
[Photo is the Arizona Senate Chambers]
Cross posted at Elijah’s Sweete Spot, where COMMENTS/DISCUSSION are Disqus™ enabled.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.