The Washington Times
DENVER — A third Western state is moving forward with a ballot measure to deny state services to illegal immigrants, an effort that could spell trouble for the White House by galvanizing opposition to President Bush's guest-worker proposal.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican, began the latest campaign last week by announcing that he had filed papers for a Colorado constitutional amendment that would restrict all but non-emergency services to U.S. residents and legal aliens.
His proposal follows similar efforts in Arizona and California, where organizers are circulating petitions for citizen initiatives that would ban state welfare and other services for illegal aliens. If they gather enough signatures, all three measures would appear on their state ballots in November.
"The only way you're ever going to get a handle on this is to restrict social services so that they [illegal immigrants] will leave," said Mr. Tancredo, a prominent opponent of Mr. Bush's guest-worker plan.
Proponents say the measures could spell trouble for the president's re-election campaign by energizing voters, particularly Republicans, against his guest-worker plan. All three measures are either led by Republicans or have the support of some state and local Republican leaders, despite the opposition of top Republican elected officials.
Posted by Suzanne at January 30, 2004