Grijalva blames 'bad' immigration law for economic woes

With SB 1070 a polarizing topic both in Arizona and across America, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva says divisions cut across all lines, with a deep racial divide.

"I’m hearing that there has been economic loss to this state ... because of that environment. Those are all not good things."

Grijalva, who himself previously called for a boycott on the state of Arizona in the form of sanctions on conference and conventions, said he is not to blame.

"I’m not in control of artists not coming here, I’m not in control of business. I’m not responsible, the responsibility is this is a bad law."

Grijalva, who was in Yuma Tuesday to discuss health care and immigration issues with community members, said he would like the resort industry and the chambers of commerce throughout the state to come out and oppose the law, which takes affect July 29.

"If those industries that care about the economic future of the state (spoke up), it would go a long ways to helping the people in the nation understand a different perspective of this state. But while they remain silent, then by silence they support (the law).

"I’m hoping that this gets overturned in court and we can move on. I’m hoping that we can compare and come up with a piece of legislation that deals with enforcement."

Ken Rosevear, executive director of the Yuma Chamber of Commerce, said its board will not comment one way or another on SB 1070. "It’s the law. We conform to the law, and until that law is changed, that’s our position."

Rosevear said to his knowledge there have not been any cancellations of conferences or groups to Yuma County because of the passage of SB 1070.

Grijalva said new legislation needs to include regulating people when they are here, making them pay a fine, adjusting their status and making them pay taxes.

"That’s how you identify who is here to help us and who is here to hurt us. You can build fences all you want, but you’re not going to deal with the problem."

Grijalva also met Tuesday afternoon with the employees of Sant United Drug Store, 419 W. 8th St. in Yuma.

The visit, Grijalva said, was to discuss the future of local pharmacies, which he said are being threatened by larger conglomerate chains and being pushed out of business.

"It’s a question of cash flow and it’s a question of survival. So I went to talk with them about their issues and what we can do to try to make their existence more permanent."

So what can be done to help save local pharmacies?

Grijalva said raising the Medicare reimbursement rates and the rates for third-party vendors, or health insurance companies, can help.

Many other members of Congress are doing the same thing this week, said Grijalva, meeting with local pharmacies across the country to get an idea of how legislation can help.

Grijalva also met with a group of local business people interested in improving the guest worker program in the United States, he said. But, Grijalva said, right now there’s a reluctance on Congress to tackle immigration reform.

"I don’t know if it can be done in the climate we are in right now. We can talk about enforcement, we can send more Border Patrol agents to the border, we can send an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to the border, but that’s one part of it. Unless you do something about comprehensive reform on another level, if you can, then all these gestures are going to be for naught."

Grijalva visited with workers at Yuma Proving Ground Tuesday to thank them for the work they do, especially, he said, on the heels of Memorial Day.

Grijalva will meet with other local groups Wednesday, including Comite de Bien Estar to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of self-help program and 8:30 a.m. groundbreaking of the 500th home at Avenue F and County 23½ Street in San Luis.