Senator comes under fire for immigration comments

Alabama Democrats are among those criticizing a powerful state senator for referencing firearms when talking about taking care of illegal immigration.
In a speech to the Cullman County Republican Party, Sen. Scott Beason finished remarks about finding solutions to illegal immigration by saying "empty the clip, and do what has to be done."
Beason, a Gardendale Republican who is the chairman of the committee that determines which bills come before the Senate for debate, has come under fire from some for comments that some consider inflammatory, especially for using that phrase following the tragic shooting in Tucson, Ariz.
Beason has since told the Associated Press he did not suggest any violence toward illegal immigrants or Hispanics. He told the Birmingham News he was using an analogy.
"Senator Beason's remarks in Cullman were unnecessary and dangerous, particularly in light of the recent tragic shootings in Tuscon," said Mark Kennedy, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party. "If Republicans are truly interested in pursuing sensible immigration reform, they should put a stop to this reckless rhetoric about emptying gun clips and build on the strong ties our Democratic Legislature made with the business community to hold corporations accountable for their part in enabling illegal workers."
Beason has been an outspoken advocate for immigration reform and said he would like to see Alabama pass some of the reforms passed in other states like Arizona.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen

Who will be sitting with the First Lady at the State of the Union?

The White House released Monday night the list of people who will be sitting in the first lady's box with Michelle Obama at the State of the Union address on Tuesday.
The list includes some of those involved with the tragic shooting in Tucson, Ariz., including the parents of 9-year-old Christina Taylor and Daniel Hernandez, the intern who tried to help U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at the scene after she was shot. The doctor who treated her in Tucson, Peter Rhee, will also be there.
The Obamas will use other seats to show the face of those who will benefit from the federal health care law including James Howard of Katy, Texas, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in March and thought his diagnosis was a death sentence because he did not have health insurance. Now, according to the White House, Howard joined the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan and is receiving the necessary treatment.
There will also be business owners in the box who benefited from the Recovery Act, know by many as the stimulus, and veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.


-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen