Arizona governor issues record 115th veto

PHOENIX --Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have drawn Arizona deeper into the fight against illegal immigration by making it a crime for illegal immigrants to be in the state.

It was the first-term governor's 115th veto, a record for Arizona. The GOP-dominated Legislature has yet to override any of the Democrat's vetoes.

The vetoed bill also would have taken a tougher approach toward employers who hire illegal immigrants, provided money for local police to arrest immigrants and expanded the list of government benefits denied to immigrants.

"It offers no constructive new ideas and instead is filled with unworkable or unconstitutional provisions that I have previously objected to or vetoed," Napolitano wrote in a letter to lawmakers.

Napolitano had warned legislative leaders she would veto the bill if it included criminalization provisions.

House Speaker Jim Weiers said in a statement that the governor thwarted the will of voters to get tough on illegal immigration.

"Gov. Napolitano is continuing to allow the unabated flow of illegal aliens into Arizona," Weiers said.

The previous Arizona veto record of 114 was established by Democrat Bruce Babbitt, according to figures compiled by the Arizona Capitol Times newspaper. However, Babbitt cast his 114 vetoes in just under nine years in office, while Napolitano has yet to finish the four-year term she began in 2003.

Napolitano is running for re-election this year. She enjoys strong poll ratings, and several prominent Republicans decided against challenging her.

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On the Net:

Napolitano: http://www.governor.state.az.us

Arizona Legislature: http://www.azleg.gov