Lawsuit against Arizona may be federal disclosure nightmare

Updated on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 12:59PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

by Kay B. Day

A Customs and Border Patrol officer negotiates an arrest after being sprayed with OC [pepper spray] in a training exercise simulating real events. [Photo by Gerald L. Nino, CBP]If the Obama administration does file the lawsuit officials have announced in response to Arizona's immigration law, it may actually work on behalf of US citizens.

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-Ariz.) is taking a ‘bring it on’ approach about rumors swirling around a federal government lawsuit against her state. Ironically the federal lawsuit challenging Arizona’s state immigration law could prove to be a disclosure nightmare for the feds. For example, a recent conversation Sen. John Kyl (R-Ariz.) disclosed is an example of President Barack Obama placing politics over the US Constitution.

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Obama cabinet politicos snark about Kyl’s stimulus stance

Arizona Republican senator John Kyl said, "Even the money that has been spent isn’t going to the worthy 'shovel-ready' projects often mentioned by proponents of the bill." Sen. John Kyl (R-Ariz.) has been outspoken about stimulus spending, calling for an end to the program many of us believe is just another Democratic Party excuse to tax and spend. Kyl found himself in a storm of criticism from some members of President Barack Obama’s cabinet. Kyl voiced his opinions during pop politics programs airing Sunday morning. The Arizona Republic doesn’t agree with Kyl’s position, but defended the senator’s right to state his concerns. The newspaper cited the cabinet politicos: “Shaun Donovan, secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Ray LaHood, secretary of Transportation. Ken Salazar, secretary of the Interior. And Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture. Of the lot, LaHood's message was the most blunt: '(I)f you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know.' " The bureaucrats sent the letter to Arizona’s governor.

There’s a lesson in this, and it’s one every American should respect. When we say we want the federal government to spend less, we must include our own states in the reductions.

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