> Senate panel meets in Valley on growing border violence
> http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/04/21/20 ...
> Apr. 21, 2009 12:00 AM
> The Arizona Republic
> Three U.S. senators promised to funnel more federal money to Arizona
> after they heard local officials complain about how Mexican cartels
> have taken a toll on the state.
> "The cartels are the cause of an enormous amount of human suffering
> and crime, kidnapping and human smuggling," said Sen. Joe Lieberman,
> who chairs the Senate panel that held a 3½ hour hearing in Phoenix on
> Monday. "Arizona and the other border states are paying
> disproportionately for that problem."
> The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
> came to Phoenix to listen to local officials who deal with the
> effects
> of criminal organizations that smuggle humans and drugs into the
> United States. Arizona Republican senators John McCain, a member of
> the committee, and Jon Kyl were part of Monday's panel.
> Lieberman promised to ramp up screening for southbound border
> traffic,
> a known route for weapons and cash destined for Mexico. He also
> supported a push by Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard to tighten
> federal rules for gift cards and other "stored-value cards" which,
> Goddard says, are used to launder money.
> Earlier this month, Lieberman and Kyl sponsored an amendment to the
> budget resolution that sets aside an additional $550 million, which
> would be split among several federal agencies, toward border security
> in fiscal 2010. About $40 million of that would be for state and
> local
> government, Lieberman said.
> Monday's session is the latest in a flurry of similar hearings
> lawmakers have held on border violence since cartel violence began
> escalating in Mexico. Goddard, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and others
> have previously testified about border violence.
> On Monday, Gordon and Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said there are
> daily kidnappings in addition to beatings, extortion attempts or
> reports of human smugglers who rape undocumented immigrant women. In
> 2008, Phoenix reported 366 abductions, mostly related to drug or
> human
> smuggling.
> Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. told the panel that
> cartels have recruited tribe members to smuggle undocumented
> immigrants and to transport narcotics. Daily, schoolchildren are
> caught with drugs, he added.
> "The Tohono O'odham Nation is in the midst of a crisis," Norris said.
> Meanwhile, Gov. Jan Brewer repeated her call to have 250 National
> Guard troops sent to the U.S.-Mexico border.
> Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio provided written testimony because
> he was traveling to New York for an appearance on Comedy Central's
> political parody "The Colbert Report."
> I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment and solution.
Euro:
Let's pretend for a second that I am with the staff of a powerful
Congressperson, just for the sake of argument, Ok? Or perhaps a MSM
journalist decided that you are up to something. Think about it, this
is your opportunity to be heard outside Usenet!
My question to you is: "How do you expect us to take you seriously?"
-Ramon
ps: Why are we bothering the nice folks whose concern are
motorcycles???
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> http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/04/21/20 ...
> Apr. 21, 2009 12:00 AM
> The Arizona Republic
> Three U.S. senators promised to funnel more federal money to Arizona
> after they heard local officials complain about how Mexican cartels
> have taken a toll on the state.
> "The cartels are the cause of an enormous amount of human suffering
> and crime, kidnapping and human smuggling," said Sen. Joe Lieberman,
> who chairs the Senate panel that held a 3½ hour hearing in Phoenix on
> Monday. "Arizona and the other border states are paying
> disproportionately for that problem."
> The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
> came to Phoenix to listen to local officials who deal with the
> effects
> of criminal organizations that smuggle humans and drugs into the
> United States. Arizona Republican senators John McCain, a member of
> the committee, and Jon Kyl were part of Monday's panel.
> Lieberman promised to ramp up screening for southbound border
> traffic,
> a known route for weapons and cash destined for Mexico. He also
> supported a push by Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard to tighten
> federal rules for gift cards and other "stored-value cards" which,
> Goddard says, are used to launder money.
> Earlier this month, Lieberman and Kyl sponsored an amendment to the
> budget resolution that sets aside an additional $550 million, which
> would be split among several federal agencies, toward border security
> in fiscal 2010. About $40 million of that would be for state and
> local
> government, Lieberman said.
> Monday's session is the latest in a flurry of similar hearings
> lawmakers have held on border violence since cartel violence began
> escalating in Mexico. Goddard, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and others
> have previously testified about border violence.
> On Monday, Gordon and Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said there are
> daily kidnappings in addition to beatings, extortion attempts or
> reports of human smugglers who rape undocumented immigrant women. In
> 2008, Phoenix reported 366 abductions, mostly related to drug or
> human
> smuggling.
> Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. told the panel that
> cartels have recruited tribe members to smuggle undocumented
> immigrants and to transport narcotics. Daily, schoolchildren are
> caught with drugs, he added.
> "The Tohono O'odham Nation is in the midst of a crisis," Norris said.
> Meanwhile, Gov. Jan Brewer repeated her call to have 250 National
> Guard troops sent to the U.S.-Mexico border.
> Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio provided written testimony because
> he was traveling to New York for an appearance on Comedy Central's
> political parody "The Colbert Report."