Republican Becomes Ariz. Governor

Republic lambastes Brewer, McCain, Kyl for immigration fiasco

(NEWSER) - Newspaper decline or not, today's Arizona Republic would have had the paper boys of yore shouting "Extra! Extra!": In a virtually unheard-of front-page editorial, the paper calls out by name almost every state leader for "pandering to public fear" on immigration policy and "allowing the debate to descend into chaos." In order of evisceration:

• Jan Brewer: "The governor's GOP primary race would have been tougher if she'd vetoed the bill, so she ducked her responsibility to the people of Arizona. She gets a bump in the polls, and Arizona gets beat up on the international stage."

Jan Brewer cuts off abortion providers from state money

(AP) - Gov. Jan Brewer yesterday signed into law a bill to cut off Planned Parenthood's access to taxpayer money funneled through the state for non-abortion services. Arizona already bars use of public money for abortions except to save the life of the mother. But anti-abortion legislators and other supporters of the bill say the broader prohibition is needed to ensure no public money indirectly supports abortion services. More»

If Supreme Court upholds, they'll force Republicans to pick a side on prickly issue

(NEWSER) - Even if the Supreme Court upholds Arizona's immigration law this summer, Senate Democrats are just going to go ahead and stick Republicans between a rock and a hard place on the controversial law. Chuck Schumer is set to announce Plan B today: legislation that would require the approval of the federal government for any new state immigration law, basically invalidating the Arizona law and similar laws in other states. The legislation has essentially zero chance of passing either the Senate or the House, but by introducing it, Senate Democrats could force a floor vote on the issue, the Washington Post reports. More»

Arizona governor says she has 'priorities'

(NEWSER) - When you're busy, you're busy—and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is just too busy to attend the White House dinner for the nation's governors tonight, she said on Meet the Press. "You know, I am a governor," she said. "I've got priorities." Insisting she "would not disrespect the president of the United States," Brewer promises to attend a National Governors Association business meeting at the White House tomorrow, USA Today reports. Probably less chance her finger-pointing spat with Obama will come up under such formal circumstances. More»

Mitt's the 'man that can carry the day' in Arizona

(NEWSER) - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer threw her weight behind Mitt Romney today, just two days ahead of the Arizona primary that Romney is expected to win. Brewer appeared on Meet the Press, notes the National Journal, calling Romney "the man that can carry the day," and praising the candidate's business background. Though no stranger to controversy, Brewer had appeared poised to back the frontrunner, who has tacked hard to the right on illegal immigration, even backing Arizona's controversial laws, notes Politico . Romney already has the blessing of John McCain. More»