Legislation and legislature issues at Arizona Dems' convention

Governor Janet Napolitano's role at the Arizona Democratic Party Convention on Saturday was part articulator of vision, part unrepentant cheerleader, as she addressed her fellow Democrats on where the party is now and where she hopes it can be by November.

She spoke to the anxiety at the national level among Democrats who fear the protracted battle between Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) will make it impossible for the eventual nominee to carry the win against favorite son Sen. John McCain.

"We are going to come out of this process united and take the White House in November," said Napolitano to an enthusiastic crowd of some 500 party members, including party officials from every county and legislative district. Otherwise, she said, "All we're going to see is the same old economic policies, the same old foreign policy" as under Pres. George W. Bush.

On the state level, Napolitano saw an ongoing opportunity for Democrats to increase their numbers in the Legislature. 
She said the party was "very close to picking up a Senate seat for good," and was even bolder when it came to the Arizona House of Representatives.

"We will... add four in the House so we elect the next Speaker." At her mention of "Speaker Lopes," referring to Rep. Phil Lopes of Tucson who currently serves as House Minority Leader and would be the natural choice for the speaker's position in a Democrat-controlled House, the crowd went wild.

Napolitano also praised the strength of the slate of Democrats running for Arizona Corporation Commission, saying they will usher in a regime at the Commission that "reflects the needs of Arizona," particularly as concerns solar energy development.

As Gov. Napolitano spoke, periodically a sizeable contingent to one side of the room waved signs that read "VETO HB 2807," referring to a bill now on the Governor's desk that would allow local authorities to enter into arrangements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to beef up their role in the enforcement of immigration law. The bill becomes law on Monday unless Gov. Napolitano vetoes it.

"Some folks think this is a harmless exchange of information," said Lydia Guzman, who is leading the effort to quash the bill. However, she said, "what this means to [Mesa Police Chief] George Gascon could mean something entirely different to [Maricopa County Sheriff] Joe Arpaio," naming two law enforcement officials who have sharply divergent philosophies on what local authorities should be doing about illegal immigration, and have publicly clashed over the issue.

Guzman said her fear is that the bill could be "misinterpreted" like the so-called "coyote" law. That was a statute designed to crack down on human traffickers bringing in immigrants from Mexico, but has been used by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas to prosecute the immigrants themselves.

Guzman said her fear is "based on a history of overzealous efforts" on the part of local law enforcement, and said HB 2807 could "open the door to racial profiling."