PRESS RELEASE – July 27, 2010
CANDIDATE LUTZ CALLS CONGRESSMAN HUNTER OUT ON HIS ANTI-AMERICAN SANCTUARY CITIES “GAG-ORDER”
LUTZ SAYS IMMIGRATION POLICY TOO IMPORTANT TO BE USED AS PARTISAN ELECTION FOOTBALL
El Cajon, Calif. –
“Hunter wants to stop the debate, but he knows he can’t pass his gag order — he’s just playing partisan politics to get in the news,” said Ray Lutz, the Democratic challenger to California’s 52nd Congressional Seat. “I say let the courts chew on Arizona’s SB-1070 law and decide once and for all if it is unconstitutional. What’s the harm in that?”
Lutz, 52, spoke in rebuttal to recent statements by Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, who this week introduced a bill into the U.S. House designed to block the department of justice from prosecuting its case against the State of Arizona for passing a law mandating all persons to carry immigration documents.
“Congressman Hunter’s support of this Arizona-type of immigration control amounts to a type of Produce Tax,” said Lutz. “If we had this kind of law affecting California’s central valley, ag labor costs would shoot through the moon – and the cost for each family to put food on the table would increase considerably.”
Lutz said Hunter’s bill aims to force the DOJ to cut Criminal Alien Assistance funds (SCAAP) from counties, such as San Diego, where law enforcement doesn’t demand immigration paperwork in every encounter with suspected immigrants. Last year, San Diego County received nearly $3 million in SCAAP funding for much-needed alien detention reimbursement, which could be in jeopardy if Hunter’s bill ever became law. The bill is seen to have very little chance of passing, however, as only five items of Hunter-sponsored legislation have ever become law – most of which were ceremonial, nothing more.
In previous statements, Hunter’s anti-immigrant stance has taken him beyond simply endorsing Arizona’s unconstitutional law. In April, The Congressman received heavy criticism for saying he would favor deporting “natural born American citizens that are children of illegal immigrants,” because the country couldn’t “afford” to continue current practices.
“Disrepecting birthright citizenship flouts the 14th amendment to our constitution, and suggests we should revisit the civil liberties gained after the Civil War” said Lutz. “This guy is representing us and he can’t even respect the bill of rights. Which right will he go after next?”
Ray Lutz for Congress is hosting a public fundraising party in the Gaslamp District this upcoming Friday, July 30, between 4-7pm at the Tequila 100 Bar & Grill.
Ray Lutz for Congress can be reached at: 619.447.3246