Napolitano Issues Record 115th Veto

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has set a state record for vetos with 115.

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.

The contrast with President Bush, who has yet to issue a veto in over five years in office–also a record–would make for some amusing campaign fodder should Napolitano decide to throw her hat into the ring for 2008.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. McGehee says:

    My theory is that Bush traded his vetoes to Napolitano in exchange for John McCain being only a modest nuisance, as opposed to the massive pain in the backside he’s normally capable of being.