Billsman
February 1st, 2006, 5:31:02 PM
Napolitano, Hayworth criticize Bush on illegal immigration
Mike Sunnucks
The Business Journal
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Scottsdale Congressman J.D. Hayworth -- intense rivals on opposite sides of the political spectrum -- both hit President Bush on immigration in the wake of Tuesday's State of the Union address.
The Arizona governor faulted Bush for not taking action on illegal immigration and for not laying out more specifics on immigration in his Tuesday night speech before Congress.
Bush voiced support for a guest worker program, increased enforcement of immigration laws and said he opposed amnesty for illegals already in the U.S.
But the Republican president did not lay out any specifics to obtain those goals.
"I was very disappointed," said Napolitano, a Democrat.
Hayworth, a Republican representing Tempe and Scottsdale, opposes guest worker planned backed by the Bush administration and by business. Hayworth said he backs Bush on other key issues such as Iraq and tax cuts, but not on the border front.
"I cannot agree with the President's approach to illegal immigration. We must not surrender to the illegal invasion of our country," said Hayworth in a statement. "A guest worker plan is unfair to American workers and would lead to a permanent underclass of workers separated from the rest of American by language, culture, and income."
Hayworth considered challenging Napolitano in this year's race for governor but opted not to run. The two could face off down the road in a possible U.S. Senate contest.
Napolitano favors a guest worker program. She said the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including a guest worker program put forward by U.S. Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
The governor also wants more federal resources and manpower allocated to border states such as Arizona. Napolitano has written Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, asking for federal money to pay for Arizona National Guard troops at the Mexican border. She's also written the Bush administration, asking for reimbursement for health care and law enforcement costs of illegal immigration and for specific numbers of border security deployments in the state.
Mike Sunnucks
The Business Journal
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Scottsdale Congressman J.D. Hayworth -- intense rivals on opposite sides of the political spectrum -- both hit President Bush on immigration in the wake of Tuesday's State of the Union address.
The Arizona governor faulted Bush for not taking action on illegal immigration and for not laying out more specifics on immigration in his Tuesday night speech before Congress.
Bush voiced support for a guest worker program, increased enforcement of immigration laws and said he opposed amnesty for illegals already in the U.S.
But the Republican president did not lay out any specifics to obtain those goals.
"I was very disappointed," said Napolitano, a Democrat.
Hayworth, a Republican representing Tempe and Scottsdale, opposes guest worker planned backed by the Bush administration and by business. Hayworth said he backs Bush on other key issues such as Iraq and tax cuts, but not on the border front.
"I cannot agree with the President's approach to illegal immigration. We must not surrender to the illegal invasion of our country," said Hayworth in a statement. "A guest worker plan is unfair to American workers and would lead to a permanent underclass of workers separated from the rest of American by language, culture, and income."
Hayworth considered challenging Napolitano in this year's race for governor but opted not to run. The two could face off down the road in a possible U.S. Senate contest.
Napolitano favors a guest worker program. She said the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including a guest worker program put forward by U.S. Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
The governor also wants more federal resources and manpower allocated to border states such as Arizona. Napolitano has written Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, asking for federal money to pay for Arizona National Guard troops at the Mexican border. She's also written the Bush administration, asking for reimbursement for health care and law enforcement costs of illegal immigration and for specific numbers of border security deployments in the state.