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Arizonans Want End to Welfare & Vote Fraud
By Christopher J. Petherick
Despite vocal opposition, the Arizona initiative known as Prop 200, formally known as the Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, which would limit illegal immigrants’ access to elections and certain welfare benefits, is likely to pass by a significant majority this November, say most knowledgeable observers.
But it hasn’t been without controversy. Opposition groups have stepped up the rhetoric against Prop 200 characterizing the leaders of the group that created the initiative as “hatefilled,” “racist,” “anti-Semitic” and “white separatist.”
Critics have even gone so far as to say the proposal, if passed, would threaten the health of Arizonans because it would deny illegal immigrants access to vaccinations and health benefits that could prevent virulent diseases from spreading across the state’s population.
So what is the truth about Prop 200? What will be its effects and what specific programs will it change?
AFP spoke with Kathy McKee, the founder and chairman of Protect Arizona Now, the organization that sponsored the initiative.
McKee, who is a vegetarian and has volunteered for Ralph Nader in the past, told AFP that Prop 200 is very specific in what it does and does not cover.
“The bottom line is we’re not changing anything. The honor system is not working. Everyone—regardless of their race, gender or religion—will simply have to prove they are a citizen to vote or to get welfare benefits,” saidMcKee. “Our initiative is not specifically changing any programs. Whatever programs people are eligible for today, they will be eligible for if the measure is passed. They just will have to prove they are citizens to get them.”
The measure, which AFP obtained courtesy of Protect Arizona Now, states: “This state finds that illegal immigration is causing economic hardship to this state and that illegal immigration is encouraged by public agencies within this state that provide public benefits without verifying immigration status. This state further finds that illegal immigrants have been given a safe haven in this state with the aid of identification cards that are issued without
verifying immigration status, and that this conduct contradicts federal immigration policy, undermines the security of our borders and demeans the value of citizenship. Therefore, the people of this state declare that the public interest of this state requires all public agencies within this state to cooperate with federal immigration authorities to discourage illegal immigration.”
The new initiative essentially says that state officials will now be obligated to verify the identity of voters and welfare recipients and would have to confirm that they are citizens of the United States. It reiterates that it is already a “class 2” misdemeanor for state workers not to report violations of federal immigration law by anyone who applies for benefits or tries to vote.
Prop 200 notes that U.S. law should be carried out “without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity or national origin.” According to Protect Arizona Now, this is defined to mean that it does not matter whether an illegal alien came from Eastern Europe, China, the Middle East or Mexico, U.S. officials are obligated to report lawbreakers.
According to McKee, Arizona state workers have told her it is common knowledge that welfare authorities have been woefully neglect in prosecuting illegal aliens who have tried to fraudulently obtain benefits.
McKee denied that the measure would affect programs designed to reduce the spread of communicable diseases spread by those who sneak across the border to seek medical treatment in the United States.
“The section we are amending covers programs under this specific title, namely welfare,” she said. “It does not cover things that are not under the title. Federally mandated laws are exempt. These include emergency medical conditions, grades kindergarten through 12 education, childhood immunizations and treatment for communicable diseases. Illegal aliens will still be entitled to these. Everyone is, no matter where you come from, according to the federal government.”
“The fact is, why should American taxpayers be the hospital for the whole world? Some of these countries are wealthy. Mexico has the fifth-largest economy in the world,” said McKee. “It’s just not fair to have U.S. taxpayers pay for these programs anymore. That is all that we are
asking.”
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