APLEblog.com

Political Columnist
ALPEBLOG

Gov. Jan Brewer’s signing of SB 1070 into law has one more obstacle to overcome before it can be permanently placed on the books. It has to pass the scrutiny of the courts. In our system of government there are three equal branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Although lawmaking is constrained to the legislative and executive branches of government, the courts can overturn law and rule it unconstitutional. However, it is common practice for the legislative and executive bodies to vet the constitutionality of their proposed laws before they are placed on the legislative agenda. Given that SB 1070 was appropriately vetted, it begs to question: why so many conclusively label Arizona’s SB 1070 as unconstitutional? Has politics blinded the eyes of Arizona’s legal analysts or do the masses have it wrong?

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Political Columnist
APLEBLOG

Homosexual marriage has been a contentious, divisive topic that has played into race, politics and elections. Into race: when the campaign for homosexual marriage is pegged with the plight of racial minorities and the civil rights movement; into politics: when representatives propose legislation to redefine or protect marriage; and into elections: when candidates state their opposition or support for electoral gain. By any measure, it is an issue that could forever stain or adorn one who dares to take a stand. Nevertheless cries of discrimination and challenges similar to the argument presented before the California Supreme Court which led to an overturn of the state’s ban on homosexual marriage, continue to resonate in federal courts throughout the 50 states.

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