(Video) Alex Sink: yes to immigration reform, ‘no thanks’ to an Arizona-style law for Florida
Just before a rally in Miamis predominantly black Liberty City neighborhood, the Democratic candidate for governor answers The Reid Report’s question regarding the intention of Florida’s Republican legislators to introduce an Arizona-style “show me your papers” law in this state. And she does so quite well, balancing the need to control our borders, with her desire (and most reasonable people’s) “not to have to take my passport with me to the grocery store.” Watch:
And about that proposed law …
The Herald write-up highlights the divide on the issue among Republicans from North and South Florida. The author of the proposed bill is from more conservative, more rural North Florida, while opposition is coming from Republicans in more international-business/Hispanic immigrant-rich southern part of the state:
Under the proposed bill, police would have broad power under state law to ask suspects for proof of legal residency, said Rep. William Snyder, a Republican from Stuart who plans to introduce the legislation in November.
“We have significant components from the Arizona bill that I plan to incorporate,” he said. “We have the beginnings of it.”
The effort, which would be filed for consideration during the March legislative session, is already drawing broad support within the GOP.
Majority leaders in the Florida Senate and House said a new approach is needed to address the federal government’s failure to temper illegal immigration.
It has the backing of both leading Republican gubernatorial candidates — businessman Rick Scott and Attorney General Bill McCollum, whose office is helping to draft the bill.
Snyder, a former police officer, said the proposed legislation is needed to protect undocumented immigrants, who are vulnerable to abusive employers and violent criminals.
“This is a human right issue,” he said. “They don’t enjoy the same rights and privileges that you and I do. The solution is to enforce the laws that currently exist and to discourage people from coming here to `find a better life’ when in fact they just come here and are victimized.”
Clever trick trying to frame racial profile as just gosh-darned concern for “illegal aliens’” welfare … Meanwhile:
Rep. J.C. Planas, a Republican from Miami, called it an election-year stunt.
“I don’t understand how anyone can think the Arizona law is good for Florida,” said Planas, chairman of the Florida Hispanic Legislative Caucus. “It is a huge waste of police resources to start doing these things.”
Yeah, if the federal government sues Florida, maybe the state can borrow some of the lawyers pursuing Bill McCollum’s frivolous healthcare suit, or his appeal of the state’s dumb adoption law, to work extra hours on the case …
Read the whole Herald article here.
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[...] a video posted in June by The Reid Report blog in which Sink blasts the feds and also says an Arizona-style law would be a “very, very bad [...]
[...] However, Wonk Room could only find evidence that suggests otherwise. Shortly after SB-1070 was signed into law, Sink stated that it “unfairly discriminates against U.S. citizens, residents and lawful visitors.” Sink also has affirmed that she opposes bringing Arizona’s immigration law to Florida, saying, “I don’t think that the Arizona law is right for Florida, given the potential economic losses and the need for our local law enforcement to focus on fighting violent crime.” According to Sink, it would be very, very bad for Florida.” [...]