2010 February 24 « Maricopa County Republican Committee

Feb 242010

Early Pennsylvania, Nullifying the Way to Freedom

Introduction

It might be instructive to look at how Pennsylvania dealt with the issue of slavery in our early history. This topic is useful, because in retrospect it is perfectly clear which side was morally right. So, this week I learned a little bit about the history of anti-slavery laws and sentiment in early Pennsylvania. I have only scratched the surface, so we will probably revisit this topic in the future. It may be that Pennsylvania’s activities, in support of Liberty for blacks in early America, can contribute to our Tenth Amendment roadmap for the future.

The first ever American resolution against slavery was issued from Pennsylvania in 1688. The University of Houston quotes the Germantown Petition against slavery as saying, “…In Europe there are many oppressed for conscience-sake; and here there are those oppressed which are of a black colour….Pray, what thing in the world can be done worse…”. The Germantown Petition, although largely ineffective, was passed among the Quaker communities in Pennsylvania.

Feb 242010

Chandler finalizing immigration-check policy

The Chandler Police Department’s new policy on illegal immigration, intended to give officers more latitude in questioning people suspected of crimes, could take effect in 60 days if the City Council approves it Thursday.

There are elements on both sides of immigration that want to make this a political issue,” City Councilman Matt Orlando said on Monday. “I will not be standing up here to make this a political issue. I want a sound policy.”

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Feb 242010

Lawmakers want schools to count illegals

State lawmakers voted Wednesday to force public schools to count how many students are in this country illegally, the first step toward challenging federal law that requires schools to educate all, legal and otherwise.

Officially, Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said SB1097, approved on a 5-2 margin by the Senate Committee on Education Accountability and Reform, is simply a fact-finding mission. He said there are lots of guesses but no actual data on how many of the approximately 1 million students in Arizona schools are neither U.S. citizens nor legal residents.

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Feb 242010

Andrew Thomas Disqualified in Case Against Wilcox

Pima County Superior Court Judge John Leonardo, who was appointed to hear the case, said Thomas faced a conflict of interest in prosecuting Mary Rose Wilcox and ruled that the conflict violated Wilcox’s rights when Thomas’ office presented allegations against her to a grand jury in January.

“Because the defendant has no representative to watch out for his or her interests before the grand jury, the prosecutor has a duty (to) not take advantage of this role to unfairly influence the grand jury,” Leonardo wrote.

Wilcox, 60, was accused of voting on contracts involving a Hispanic advocacy group that had given her loans and never filing conflict-of-interest statements. She had pleaded not guilty to felony charges of conflict of interest, perjury, forgery and false swearing.

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Feb 242010

Pot Wars–Battleground California

Over the past couple of years, the medical marijuana industry in Los Angeles has exploded. Estimates vary, but there may be as many as 800 dispensaries currently open for business in the city of angels. An ordinance recently passed by the LA city council, however, is about to change all that.

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