Prop 200 Legal Opinion and Legal Battle
Controversial ballot issue Proposition 200 passed just over a week ago. Supporters say it's meant to prevent illegal immigrants from getting access to public benefits. But what "benefits" specifically does it refer to? Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard in a legal opinion released Friday says Prop 200 was written under welfare law (Title 46) and should apply only to welfare programs. But in a press release the Attorney General also says his opinion won't be the last word on the proposition. Several legal battles are expected, including the battle over the definition of public benefit. Prop 200 supporter Russ Dove says a public benefit " is defined as any grant, contract, loan, professional license or commercial license" according to federal law. Dove's interpretation appears to include more programs than the welfare system. He says the intent of the proposition is to prevent illigal immigrants from receiving state funds. Prop 200 opponents say supporters are being unclear on purpose. "They have switched and baited many times," said Prop 200 opponent Alexis Mazon, "and we have the record of their public statements again and again over the past several months." Mazon says opponents will take their battle to the courts. "I think [the Attorney General's opinion is] a step in the right direction, but we're moving forward with various legal challenges. There's many constitutional problems with Prop 200," said Mazon, "and we're still going to go to court and make sure Prop 200 is never enforced in the state of Arizona." [more