On March 17 the Ariz. Senate voted down a package of birthright-citizenship bills, reports The Arizona Republic. Republican lawmakers were split over the bills and Democrats opposed them. Senate Bills 1308 and 1309 would have defined children as citizens of Arizona and the U.S. if at least one of their parents was either a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent U.S. resident. Others bills that were defeated would have banned illegal immigrants from state universities, made it a crime for illegal immigrants to drive a vehicle in the state, required school districts to check the legal status of students, and required hospitals to check the legal status of patients.
The newspaper said it was likely that the issues would not return this legislative session or would go directly to voters.
Sen. Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, told the paper that the state should be focused on its budget and not on a divisive issue that puts Arizona in a bad light. He said he didn’t believe the bills would accomplish their larger goal.
Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, told the paper the bills would be bad for business and would not help to move the economy forward.
Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Ariz. Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said over 20 chambers of commerce from across the state have signed a letter urging the Legislature to turn back legislation that would redefine the concept of citizenship. He also said 60 CEOs and corporate executives signed a letter calling on the Legislature not to pass additional state-level immigration legislation and instead direct its energy to pressing Congress for meaningful immigration reform.