New York Governor David Patterson confuses budget concerns with illegal immigration.

The Arizona Daily Star reports today that New York’s governor will create “the nation's first "pardon panel" to investigate requests of legal immigrants facing deportation because of past convictions”. Gov. Patterson goes on to defend his stance by referencing how the nation is embroiled in conflict over an Arizona law that critics say would encourage racial profiling. Isn’t there anything that a politician wouldn’t do to get more votes? However in his defense I recall that he might not be running for reelection because of personal problems.

New York faces a major financial crisis just like every other state, except because of its sheer size, it is described as a “black hole” One can only surmise as to how the governor plans on funding “the nation's first "pardon panel" when he is having to furlough state employees to save money. Maybe he looks at it through Obamanomics; you know what I mean, the economics that suggests that $5 billion is miniscule when looked at in context of $1 trillion.

I think the real concern here should be, that while Arizona’s new immigration law basically does nothing more than require it’s law enforcement branches to enforce existing federal laws, the Patterson approach is to figure out ways to get around the laws. The current federal legislation Congress passed in 1996 made longtime residents subject to deportation as "aggravated felons" for offenses such as marijuana possession. The only recourse for these “felons” is for them to be granted a pardon, which is exactly what Gov. Patterson is proposing.

Maybe Gov. Patterson should just appeal to the good hearts on New Yorkers and have them show up and picket the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in New York. Lord only knows that New York needs them, both financially and from an electorate stand point. Or maybe, just maybe, he should call for a boycott of all business within the state. You know, something like the idiot Congressman from Arizona did.

And before I get away, let me remind you that on May 18, Arizona has an election to raise taxes on each and every citizen in an effort to offset bad management by our state and local governments. Their underlying guise is that without the increase we in essence will stop teaching our children. We are led to further believe that our schools will be out of business and our children will be left to run the streets. In reality what will happen is that the school systems will wake up to the fact that the citizens of Arizona are going to say enough is enough. We are not going to continue to throw good money after bad and if the school districts don’t shape up, they will be shipped out.

So, as I continue to say, VOTE NO on PROP 100.