News

Apr 17, 2009

On the eve of President Barack Obama's first presidential trip to Mexico, Arizona's two U.S. senators said National Guard troops are needed along the border to control violence and discourage illegal immigration.

Military deployment was among the wide-ranging issues Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl touched upon Wednesday as featured speakers before 450 attendees at an Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry luncheon at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.

Glenn Hamer, the chamber's chief executive, said in an interview that decreasing border violence is essential for Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration-reform bill, something some businesses have advocated to help with employment issues.

"There is no way the public will accept that unless the border is secure," Hamer said.

"One of the reasons that legislation failed last time around was there was concern the border was not secure."

The drug-cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexican border also has discouraged some Americans from traveling to Mexico, hampering that country's already fragile economy.

A Customs and Border Protection official also warned Congress that the violence could influence trade between the countries.

After the luncheon, Kyl said that sending the National Guard to the border would discourage "coyotes" from engaging in human trafficking.

"There is something about the U.S. military that they don't want to mess with," Kyl said.

McCain and Kyl's support for deployment comes after Govs. Jan Brewer of Arizona and Rick Perry of Texas called upon the federal government to deploy Guard troops on the U.S. side of the border with Mexico.

However, it's questionable whether those requests will be approved.

Alan Bersin, a former U.S. attorney named "border czar" Wednesday by the Obama administration, brushed aside those calls after being appointed to the new post by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Arizona's former governor.

"We should be very cautious to not misstate the security situation," Bersin said, adding that the laws prohibiting the use of the military in law enforcement "have served this country well."

During the luncheon, the senators also discussed taxation, health care and union powers in the workplace.

McCain, noting that Wednesday was the deadline for Americans to file their income taxes, told the audience that the government taxes them enough and that he is worried about how the federal debt will burden future generations.

He also said he wasn't surprised so many Americans on Wednesday participated in tea parties, rallies protesting high taxes and large government spending.

McCain, reiterating one of his presidential-campaign proposals, said the federal government should provide a $5,000 tax credit to individuals who buy their own health insurance.

He also chastised health-care providers for not doing enough to reform the industry and for allowing too much waste.

Kyl, meanwhile, said he will continue to fight union efforts to pass "card-check" legislation that would eliminate private-ballot elections and allow workers to sign a card to establish union representation.

"There needs to be a grass-roots effort for this to stay dead," Kyl said.

Both senators, however, took a pass when it came to offering advice on the state's nearly $3 billion budget deficit.

"I'm not going to touch that with a 10-foot pole," Kyl said, drawing laughs from the audience.

Paul Rovey, a Glendale dairy farmer, said he appreciated the senators' comments, especially those regarding a reduction in taxes.

"They had a good message," Rovey said. "I totally agree with 'Let's not let the government tax us to death.' "