Candidates field questions on immigration
Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
BENTONVILLE - Republican state House candidates with opponents in their party primary pitched for votes and fielded questions at a candidate forum Tuesday in Bentonville.
House District 95 candidates are Duncan Baird and Linda Bisbee; District 99, Vickey Boozman and Tim Summers; and District 100, Mary Lou Slinkard and Byron Warren.
All six candidates asserted that the state government can play a significant role in combating illegal immigration, and all pledged, if elected, to help the government do that.
Bisbee and Baird both commended the city of Rogers for taking advantage of a provision of a federal law - 287 (g ) - that allows for local lawenforcement officers to receive training in enforcement of federal immigration law.
"I believe illegal immigration is illegal, period," Bisbee said. "I would not vote for any law that gives illegal-immigration benefits. I would, however, strongly support any legislation that enabled the local communities to strengthen their position and enforce the laws, such as we are doing in Rogers. I'm very proud of that."
Baird said he doesn't agree with those who say fighting illegal immigration is strictly federal business.
"A hot-button issue is illegal immigration. Some say the feds are the only ones that can do anything. I believe there's more we can do at the state level. The 287 (g ) program is a good program, and we need to get as many agencies involved as possible," Baird said.
Funding at the state level for training officers would make it easier for the additional training to take place as needed, he said.
All six candidates said they are glad the county is "dry"but that they would support the right of the people to vote on the "wet-dry"issue.
Both Summers and Boozman said they would not support making mistreatment of animals a felony.
Most people in agriculture and elsewhere in the area make responsible decisions about the treatment of their animals, and he doubts a new law could improve matters, Summers said. "I think it would be too stringent to make a law that encompassed the whole thing," he said.
There's a more urgent need to change another law, Boozman said.
"I don't know how you can pass a law that says it's a felony to mistreat animals when you have abortion going on and it's not a felony," she said.
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