Doyle turns down AG Van Hollen's request to weigh in on Arizona law

Doyle turns down AG's request to weigh in on Arizona law

By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: July 13, 2010 |(13) Comments

Madison — Gov. Jim Doyle denied a request Tuesday by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to file a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit against Arizona over its new immigration law.

Van Hollen, a Republican, wanted to join Michigan in the filing to make the case that states have the power to instruct their police officers to contact federal immigration official to verify a person's citizenship if they have reasonable suspicion the person is in the country illegally.

Van Hollen can't join the brief without the approval of the Democratic governor or one of the houses of the Legislature, which are both controlled by Democrats. Doyle declined the request Tuesday and lawmakers are not in session.

Doyle spokesman Adam Collins said the governor viewed the filing a "political stunt" because Wisconsin does not have a law like Arizona's.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/98364209.html  

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