Arizona, a microcosm of views on immigration – the ballot questions

The East Valley Tribune, A Pheonix area newspaper, gave a run-down on the immigration related ballot issues for Nov.7. Republican legislatures passed bills “ranging from tough sanctions on employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers to giving law enforcement agencies the authority to arrest illegal immigrants under state trespassing laws.” Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed them all.
Here are the four ballot questions:
PROP. 103 — ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Proposition 103 would declare English as the official language and prohibit some government agencies from conducting official business in other languages. The concept isn’t new to the state; Napolitano rejected a similar measure in 2005.
And in 1988, voters approved a measure declaring English the state’s official language. But it was ultimately declared unconstitutional by the Arizona Supreme Court because it was too broad and would have prevented elected officials from communicating with voters in another language.
PROP. 300 — ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES
Proposition 300 would prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving in-state college tuition, state-subsidized child care and adult education services, such as English classes.
PROP. 102 — PUNITIVE DAMAGES
If Proposition 102 passes, it would amend the state constitution to prevent illegal immigrants from being awarded punitive damages in court.
PROP. 100 — BAILABLE OFFENSES
Voters also will have to decide if illegal immigrants arrested on a felony charge deserve the right to be released on bail.