Native American Kansas State Rep. Smacks Down Anti-Immigrant Secretary of State Kris Kobach
Posted: March 21, 2013 Filed under: immigration, open thread, U.S. Politics | Tags: ALEC, Kansas, Kris Kobak, Native Americans, Rep. Ponka-We Victors 21 Comments
This is such a great story, via Think Progress:
A Native American state representative in Kansas rebuked Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a leader in the anti-immigrant movement, at a hearing yesterday.
“I think it’s funny Mr. Kobach, because when you mention illegal immigrant, I think of all of you,” said State Rep. Ponka-We Victors (D), a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona, during a hearing on Wednesday about a state statute that allows children of undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities. Her comments drew loud applause from the audience.
From The Topeka Capital-Journal:
Students who have lived in the United States most of their lives got choked up as they described the academic lifeline in-state tuition has provided to improve their lives. A counselor who works with such students in Wichita high schools shed tears as she showed legislators a scrapbook of success stories. Murmurs of unrest were heard in the gallery as one House member asked about the prevalence of illegal immigrants from gangs and drug cartels in American prisons.
But nothing drew a bigger reaction than when Rep. Ponka-We Victors, D-Wichita, wrapped up a series of questions to the bill’s chief proponent, Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
….
Wednesday’s hearing on House Bill 2192 would have repealed a nearly 10-year-old statute that allows students who graduate from Kansas high schools and have lived in Kansas for at least three years to pay in-state tuition at state universities and community colleges, regardless of residency status.
Kobach, a lightning-rod for controversy on immigration issues, told the committee federal law conflicts with that statute.
“U.S. citizens should always come first when it comes to handing out government subsidies,” Kobach said.
Kris Kobach is the architect of the Arizona “papers please” immigration law as well as other anti-immigrant laws around the country. He is also a strong supporter of the extremist Arizona voter registration law that is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more about him at the Mother Jones Link (2012)–and if you have time, check out this 2011 piece at the Southern Poverty Law Center: When Mr. Kobach Comes to Town: Nativist Laws and the Communities They Damage.
Kris Kobach is the architect of the Arizona “papers please” immigration law as well as other anti-immigrant laws around the country. He is also a strong supporter of the extremist Arizona voter registration law that is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more about him at the Mother Jones Link (2012)–and if you have time, check out this 2011 piece at the Southern Poverty Law Center: When Mr. Kobach Comes to Town: Nativist Laws and the Communities They Damage.
Rep. Ponka-We Victors was elected in 2010, and the Indian Country Today Media Network characterizes her as a “political warrior.”
As a young, first-term legislator, Victors, the first American Indian woman elected to the Kansas legislature, garnered state headlines in 2012 when she urged colleagues to reject proposals for strict immigration-enforcement laws during a hearing of the House Federal and State Affairs committee. “Personally,” said Victors, “my people have been fighting immigration since 1492. It doesn’t get any better.”
Read an interview with her at the Indian Country link.
So…. What else is happening out there? Got any feel good stories to share? This is a wide-open thread!
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Well, I had to search & go back a few days, but this should make some folks smile: http://www.treehugger.com/ocean-conservation/australian-tv-reporter-rescues-stranded-dolphin.html
That’s a good one. Thanks!
I found this one today: Pooch Has Own Seeing Eye Dog; Pair Rescued And Looking For Home
I heard another story like that a while back. Plus I think there was a case of a cat & dog doing, but I can’t remember which one was blind. I’ll see if I can find it. Critters do bond with each, but some people refuse to believe it. Two of my cats are the best of buds. Usually Chaka stays in the cat room, but she cries to come out & dashes for Chow-Li who proceeds to groom Chaka. The 2 of them lay curled up together – it’s cute.
This wasn’t the story I’d heard, but it’s sweet: http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/193317/seeing-eye-cat-leads-around-a-blind-dog/
That is so sweet!
Another example from PBS Animal Odd Couples
….
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/animal-odd-couples/full-episode/8009/
I have underestimated other species for far too long.
This is amazing! I had no idea about animals helping other who are blind until today.
Thanks for posting on this, BB. Irony can be sweet.
I hope she can keep holding onto her seat. She’s a breath of fresh air, especially in Kansas.
She’s a beauty……..and a splendid breath of fresh air.
I think she is awesome.
Twitter mocks Saxby Chambliss for his ridiculous remark about gay marriage: “I’m not gay so I’m not going to marry one.”
She’s back, ever since Palin said her rack reach the mountaintop, old Michele Bachmann is itching her racks, and dragging her foot
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/03/21/michele_bachmann_warns_obamacare_will_literally_kill_people.html
What you say we have a mock funeral with her money.
I have a feel good story to share. I was just searching the web for images of sunflowers and the photo posted above of Kris Kobach came up in the search. It immediately caught my eye and no wonder why, I painted the very sunflower art behind him. “Sunshine Grows in Kansas” by me, Debra Clemente is part of the permanent art collection of the Kansas Governor’s office and last time I knew it was hanging directly behind the private office desk of the Governor too.
No kidding. And you didn’t know the photo had been taken in front of your work? I think I may have snatched that picture from Politico, but I have no idea where they got it.
Anyway, thanks for telling us. Do you happen to have a photo of the entire painting? I’d love to see it. I spent my early childhood in Lawrence, Kansas, and I’m still very partial to sunflowers.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope to see you again.
I found one photo of the painting here.
It is lovely! Congratulations! I hope you have a website with prints available.
OMG I just went to your site! I love your work!
I forgot to try clicking on Deborah’s name. Her art is amazing!
I know. I want some. I only have stuff that has meaning and this work is not only lovely but it would always remind me of the people I’ve met on this blog.