Arkansas - Immigration grows as an election issue

[Arkansas : Immigration grows as an election issue: by Michael R. Wickline ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE 8/27/06] [Extract] DISTRICT 86: Nearly 5,000 of state Rep. Monty Davenport's constituents have been urged in a piece of mail from a conservative advocacy group to ''Ask Monty why he's pampering illegal aliens and putting drug dealers back on the street." The Coalition for Arkansas' Future gave the first-term Democrat from Yellville an "F-" grade for voting for a bill that would have allowed illegal aliens who graduate from Arkansas high schools to qualify for in-state tuition rates and taxpayer-funded scholarships at state universities. ... ."Davenport said ... "I voted for it just because I thought it was a good bill," Republican candidate, Kelley, Linck, said he would have voted against the bill,. "I don't think we should be using taxpayers' money to give advantage to illegal aliens...."
DISTRICT 76: Rep. Ray Kidd, Democrat, said, Illegal immigration is not "a hot topic" in the district ... However, Republican Candidate Byron Holt said illegal immigration is "absolutely an issue." He cited Kidd's vote for the same bill that would have allowed illegal aliens to qualify for in-state tuition and taxpayer funded scholarships. "It is something I am talking to voters about as I go door to door," Holt said."If you encourage people to come here illegally, so their kids can get lower-cost education, I don't agree with that. The more you promote bad behavior the more bad behavior you are going to get." .. . Kidd said "It was for kids who... had made exceptional grades in school and their parents are illegal." ... He said he doesn't regret his vote. [ARRA editorial note: Kidd ingnored fact most of the "kids" if illegals were also illigal aliens]
STATEWIDE RACES: Immigration also has surfaced in statewide races. ... Hutchinson "is the only candidate in this race who proposes giving state law enforcement the ability to fight illegal immigration, and holding employers accountable for hiring illegal aliens, while Mike Beebe says we shouldn't do anything at the state level. Beebe's outdated line of thinking shows his lack of experience and engagement in this critical area of security ... one that affects state governments as much as the federal government, ... Two months ago, Asa Hutchinson said he would offer legislation to require law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of anyone taken into custody. He said the state should partner with federal officials to provide training to local and state law enforcement officials on making immigration arrests. ... He would propose measures to reduce employment opportunities for illegal aliens in state agencies and companies that do contract work for the state and to create more-sophisticated state identification documents to reduce document fraud.