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Campaign Updates>
Penry Slams High Court on Illegal Immigration
June 15, 2006
For Immediate Release
Josh Penry
216.8039
PENRY SLAMS HIGH COURT FOR DENYING ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
INITIATIVE A PLACE ON THE BALLOT "THE WORST KIND OF
JUDICIAL ACTIVISM..."
Grand Junction, Colorado -- State Representative Josh Penry
offered sharp criticism of the Colorado Supreme Court for a
ruling today that would deny the voters of Colorado a
chance to vote on a citizens initiative that would prohibit
illegal immigrants from receiving welfare and other
non-emergency taxpayer-funded services.
The Court ruled that the initiative violated Colorado's
single subject rule, and was therefore not eligible to
appear on the ballot this November.
Said Penry, "This is the worst and most arrogant kind of
judicial activism, the kind where a few unelected judges
use twisted constitutional logic to block a vote of the
people on one of the most important issues of the day.
The Supreme Court's ruling is dead wrong -- this measure
clearly passes the single subject test. And their motives
are reprehensible -- these judges are obstructing our
democratic process for the sake of their own left-wing
agenda."
Penry's echoed the opinions of a number of other
on-lookers, including the two dissenting Justices on the
Supreme Court, Nathan Coats and Ann Rice. Former Democrat
Governor Richard Lamm, a primary proponent of the
anti-illegal immigration ballot measure, called the ruling
"...raw, naked politics."
The Initiative that the Justices scuttled today is modeled
closely after a measure approved by the voters of Arizona
in 2004 by a wide margin. It would deny illegal immigrants
access to any government services, except for those
mandated by the federal government and emergency room care.
Penry said he believes strongly that the measure would have
passed in Colorado too.
Concluded Penry, "The American people are fed up with a
system that rewards people who break our laws. The judicial
activists in Colorado won the battle today, but they will
not win the war. When the Legislature convenes next
January, this issue will be at the top of the agenda."
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