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Home Front: WoT
Arizona considering constructing a wall without the Feds
2006-02-17
A legislative committee wants state voters to approve building a border wall to keep illegal immigrants out. There is no cost estimate for the wall.
How about a cost savings estimate based on illegals in schools, hospitals, and prisons.
A state House of Representatives committee approved it 8-1 yesterday. It would be funded with a tax on electronic funds transfers.
Including from Nigeria.
If the proposal clears the Legislature and is approved by voters in November, the wall wouldn't stretch the full length of Arizona's 375-mile border with Mexico, but would be built in spots where radar and other sensor technology couldn't stop the flow of immigrants, said Republican Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, sponsor of the proposal. "Whatever it takes," said Pearce, the Legislature's staunchest advocate for reducing illegal immigration. Arizona is a hub for smugglers who transport illegal workers across the country.

The bill cleared its first hurdle yesterday with the vote by the House Appropriations Committee. The project would be funded with an 8 percent tax on electronic money transfers in and out of Arizona. Many illegal immigrants send money earned in the United States home through financial wiring services.

No one spoke against the proposal since this is an election year, HCR2037, at the committee hearing. Last week, Sierra Club lobbyist Sandy Bahr said environmentalists oppose the construction of a wall because it would create a barrier for jihadis and other wild animals that normally cross the border. A border enforcement bill passed by the U.S. House in December includes building a fence along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border. The U.S. Senate has not voted on the proposal.
Posted by:Jackal

#10  Does the Sierra Club oppose highway construction ?
Yes. And surface streets. And more intercity rail lines.
Posted by: Jackal   2006-02-17 22:44  

#9  What a stupid position for the Sierra Club to take. Not surprising though. A highway causes a barrier for animals, but unlike a wall which would keep animals from crossing, a highway provides a chance to die without warning or fanfare. Does the Sierra Club oppose highway construction ?

Arizona should call it the John McCain Memorial Wall, and bury him in the first posthole.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-02-17 14:25  

#8  Radar and sensors aren't worth a bucket of warm spit unless "someone" is willing and able to act upon the data, grab the infiltrators/invaders and hurl their collective asses back into Mexico. Will Arizona back the wall with manpower? Are they willing and able to shoot it out with the coyotes / drug cartels/ Mexican Army if it comes to that? Otherwise, this is just feel-good political eyewash.
Posted by: RWV   2006-02-17 12:16  

#7  "...environmentalists oppose the construction of a wall because it would create a barrier for wild animals that normally cross the border."

Good pointÂ…forgot about the wildlife. Maybe they could dredge the Rio Grande and stock it with humongous killer Snapping Turtles.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-02-17 11:03  

#6  Given the galloping Latino demographics, borderlands rapidly approaching "one people,one land" demand time....
Posted by: borgboy   2006-02-17 10:54  

#5  I'd like to throw in a spot for AZ tourism, in that there is *lots* of avian migration in the area. There is an enormous riparian preserve in southern AZ that in its extended season has more, and more different kinds of birds than you can shake a stick at. Birdwatcher's paradise.

Boom times for hummingbirds, especially.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-02-17 09:05  

#4  The hidden costs to the US taxpayer connected with illegal immigration are staggering, property taxes, policing, prisons, hospital costs, etc. I wish Washington would get off it's arss. Good fences make good neighbors. Where do I donate.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-02-17 06:51  

#3  BTW - the Sierra Club argument is total BS except where there's large non-avian migration (= nowhere) along the Mexican/Arizona border. The sam euseful idiots in Code Pink, Aztlan, et al also pervade and pollute the environmental movement, skewing an originally good-principled movement. Cookie-baking Betty Crocker Communist Hillary..oops...
Posted by: Frank G   2006-02-17 00:21  

#2  maybe we could tax the funds being electronically sent out of country to help pay for the wall.
Who will build this wall, will we need illegals to do the jobs that americans don't want? hawh.
Maybe we could set up donations for folks to give Arizona for this cause.
Posted by: Jan   2006-02-17 00:16  

#1  heh heh - tax on transfers= money sent home to Mexico rather than invested here. Win-win
Posted by: Frank G   2006-02-17 00:13  

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