- AZ: Anti-Immigrant Policy Results in Legal Backlash
A new lawsuit against the state of Arizona alleges that the state has been treating any transfer of money by immigrants as an illegal transfer. That treatment has resulted in the blanket seizure of millions of dollars, much of it being legitimately transferred according to plaintiffs. [National Public Radio, 10/19/2006]
- CO: Federal Law Enforcement Agent Allegedly Uses Position to Aid Governor Candidate
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says it has identified a federal law enforcement agent who accessed the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Information from the NCIC made its way into the political debate between Bob Beauprez and Bill Ritter in an ad attacking Ritter. Accessing the NCIC for illegitimate purposes can result in criminal penalties. The Beauprez campaign continues to deny wrong-doing. [Colorado Confidential, 10/20/2006]
- Ballot Blunders Threaten to Cause Election Mixups
A series of blunders, many of them likely simple human error, could have serious implications come Election Day. Some are humorous -- a Michigan County slipped in its proofreading an omitted the 'l' from 'public' -- some have more dire consequences -- in Kansas, Spanish-language voter registration forms failed to instruct eligible voters than election officials may reject incomplete forms, a warning carried on English-language forms. Stateline.org has an thorough roundup of many of the most pressing issues. [Stateline.org, 10/20/2006; New York Times, 10/19/2006]
- CA: Rewriting the Law by Executive Fiat
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been trumpeting his support for progressive causes, including his recent signing of great legislation to fight global warming (a move that we applauded here at Progressive States). So why is now undermining the legislation he signed? California's law is the best in the nation, but Schwarzenegger -- in a move applauded by industry -- signed an executive order that would simultaneously weaken the law and also create more executive discretion than the legislature intended. This is high school civics -- Governors don't write laws, they enforce them. It'd be wise for Schwarzenegger to stop weakening laws while trumpeting his support for them. [Progressive States, 10/18/2006]
- IL: She'd Move...In a New York Minute
It's called residency. A minor party candidate for Secretary of State of Illinois actually lives in New York, although she has said that "If elected, I'll be happy to come back." As with most (probably all) states, non-residents are not allowed to be elected to office. Given the candidate's minor party status and her lack of residence, it's unlikely she'd win anyways. But running candidates for office who are ineligible to serve is damaging to the process itself. [Journal Register, 10/19/2006]
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