Ariz. birther bill in gov's hands

Arizona's birther bill has cleared the state legislature and is headed to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer's desk.

After it easily cleared the state Senate Wednesday, the Arizona House on Thursday night voted 40-16 in favor of the legislation requiring presidential candidates provide proof that they were born in the United States before being able to get on the ballot in the state. Four members of the state House didn't vote on the bill.


Lawmakers in 10 states introduced birther bills in their state legislatures at the beginning of this year's sessions, but the Arizona bill is so far the only one to make it to a governor's desk. The measure had failed twice in the last two years to make its way through the legislature, but this time was shepherded by a compliant Republican leadership that had not been eager to advance the issue before.

The Republican speaker of the state House supported the bill this time, he told The Arizona Republic, because he believes it does not "add to or detract from the qualifications for president as stated in the United States Constitution."

Brewer has not yet indicated where she stands on the bill, but has five days to choose whether to sign or veto it. If Brewer decides to not take a position and let the five-day period lapse, the bill will become law.

The bill passed despite significant opposition from editorial boards and other moderate and left-leaning opinion leaders in the state.

"Spare us," an Arizona Republic editorial declared Thursday. "Arizona shouldn't be embarrassed by a goofy 'birther' bill. We shouldn't be the punch line in the next round of national jokes."

This article tagged under: 2012

Arizona