Governor Beebe Fooling the People on Aliens Ballot Initiative
Governor Mike Beebe announced that he will oppose the initiated act by the people that would allow citizens in Arkansas to vote in November to bar illegal aliens from receiving certain state services. http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/226288 May 20, 08 “Illegal-alien act faulty” by Michael Wickline
Governor Beebe said that the initiative “would duplicate state and federal laws” and that “All of the proposal’s major provisions already are covered by federal or state laws.” Governor Beebe is playing the usual deceptive political tricks. Beebe knows quite well that legislators tried to pass, and will most likely try to pass more laws in the future, that actually contradict those federal laws of which he speaks – laws that would GIVE illegal aliens more benefits rather than DENY them benefits. Even if the laws are challenged, Beebe knows they can be upheld by a liberal judge.
Beebe was the one who issued the Attorney General opinion in 2005 on HB1525 by Joyce Elliott that would have given college scholarships and in-state tuition to illegal aliens. Beebe’s opinion indicated the law could very well violate federal statutes. The law still passed the Arkansas House and barely failed in the Senate after a royal battle.
Beebe knows that Senator Wilkins also tried to get the basic tenants of HB1525 passed again this last session. If this Secure Arkansas initiative does not pass, we can look for a battle in this area, as well as other similar areas, every session. In fact, Joyce Elliott stated last week that she may bring the measure back before the Legislature next year. The ballot initiative that Beebe opposes would settle the matter because it specifically denies these postsecondary benefits to illegal aliens. That is just one example that contradicts Beebe’s assertions that Arkansas is protected by federal law.
And is Beebe just being deceitful or has he forgotten about federal law, 8-USC-Section 1621 (d) which actually says the states can pass laws to give illegal aliens state & local public benefits? The immigration lawyer by the name of Yates tried to use that law in 2005 to prove that Joyce Elliott’s HB1525 for instate tuition and scholarships for illegal aliens did not violate federal law. There was one little or big problem with Yates’ opinion: another federal law 8 USC Section 1623 (a) added restrictions that made HB1525 violate federal law. http://law.onecle.com/uscode/8/1623.html
State laws can be passed that would extend a number of benefits to illegal aliens. That law, 8-USC-Section 1621 (d), reads: "A State may provide that an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States is eligible for any State or local public benefit for which such alien would otherwise be ineligible under subsection (a) of this section only through the enactment of a State law after August 22, 1996, which affirmatively provides for such eligibility.”
So why is Beebe trying to fool the people of Arkansas into thinking they are safe under federal laws when all he and the legislature have to do is pass a law in Arkansas to allow benefits for illegal aliens?
For rest of article see this link or click Monday below: http://www.wpaag.org/Illegals%20-%20Beebe%20fooling%20people%20on%20ballot%20initiative.htm







