Anti-Immigration Extremists "dead in the water"

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports that the chances of the extremist anti-immigrant Initiative 966 getting on the ballot this fall are slim to none.

Initiative to halt benefits to illegal immigrants seen as failing

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) -- A massive last-ditch effort is being made to try to get an initiative to halt government benefits for undocumented immigrants on the ballot this fall, the prime sponsor says.

With fewer than half the signatures that likely will be needed on petitions for Initiative 966 to date, however, there is little chance the measure will go to a vote of the people, said Mathew S. Manweller, a political science professor and specialist in initiatives and direct democracy at Central Washington University.

"They're dead in the water," Manweller told the Yakima Herald-Republic. ...(more)

In spite of all the demagogic fear mongering done by anti-immigrant extremist groups, few in Washington State are buying it. Most people have the common sense and the heart to look for a reasoned answer to the problem of undocumented workers coming to the U.S..

Welcoming immigrants and integrating parts of their culture into the American culture is a old as the U.S.A.. As a matter of fact, one of the complaints against King George in the Declaration of Independence was: "He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, ..."