Protect Arizona NOW supports an initiative, "Arizona Taxpayers and Citizens Protection Act," that does three things:

Proof of citizenship to register to vote. The U.S. Constitution established more than 200 years ago that only citizens may vote. The initiative requires everyone equally to prove that eligibility. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires states to strengthen the integrity of their voter rolls, as does Title 7, Section 12 of the Arizona Constitution.

Photo I.D. when voting. Photo I.D. is required to cash a check, apply for welfare, sign a lease, or get a rental card at a video store. Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed the photo I.D. bill, stating it was illegal. Yet 11 states already have laws requiring I.D. when voting. Some laws have been on the books for decades.

Proof of eligibility to receive non-federal mandated public benefits. This is already on the books. The initiative would require everyone to provide proof of eligibility equally. The Urban Institute studied this extensively in 1994, the University of Arizona in 2001, and estimated such costs to vary widely in the tens of millions of dollars.

While the overall responsibility of Immigration belongs to the Federal Government, the impact of the Federal Government's failure falls on the citizens of Arizona and it is up to us to do something about illegal activity and the issues of voter fraud and theft of taxpayer dollars.

They say this initiative is divisive? Like its name says, it seeks to protect Arizona taxpayers and citizens. The only divisiveness our initiative could cause might be between those for whom laws matter and those for whom laws don't matter.

Frustrated with the moves by Napolitano and the U.S. Congress to reward illegal immigration by granting aliens licenses, government benefits, amnesty and the right to vote, concerned citizens are seeking the signatures of 122,612 registered voters before the deadline of next July 1 in order to add the "Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act" to the 2004 ballot.

The national media has focused on the illegal alien problem and have consistently complemented PAN (Protect Arizona NOW) for attempting to protect the citizens of the State of Arizona from fraud and abuse.

On Nov. 20, Rep. Graf and I held a press conference, where we had 28 Republican legislators stand in support of the PAN Initiative. I am still waiting for our Congressional delegation to join their constituents and support Protect Arizona NOW (polls reflect that 85 percent of our constituents support PAN).

"I think it is a duty in those entrusted with the administration of their affairs to conform themselves to the decided choice of their constituents." -- Thomas Jefferson said to John Jay, 1785.

Because of uncontrolled immigration and the failure of the federal government to do its job, we have destruction of our neighborhoods, violence in our communities, and economic destruction to our country. Yet, we have an unwillingness by some of our elected officials to take a stand, support the rule of law and do their Constitutional duty to protect our citizens and taxpayers.

There is a revolution with a small "r" in this country (just look at California). This is not about race, this is not about a political party. I understand "illegal" and so do most Americans.

We need to hold our elected officials accountable and see that our laws are enforced and citizens are protected.

Can I be bold enough to suggest that the greatest thing we can do is to support our Constitution, the rule of law, protect our sovereignty, and protect our Citizens from abuse and fraud. One of the greatest threats we have is illegal immigration. It is the Trojan Horse that we keep treating like a sacred cow. I am very disappointed in those that run from their No. 1 responsibility to protect life, liberty and property. I cannot stand by and act like this country is not being destroyed by mass invasion while some act like nothing is wrong. We must take a stand.

In Arizona, AHCCCS grew from $200 million in 2001 to $1.2 billion in 2003 -- more than 500 percent, not to mention the impact to the health care system, criminal justice system and the educational system. The cost of illegal aliens cannot be tolerated anymore.

There is no doubt that these costs are staggering. Federal laws and state court rulings requiring hospital emergency rooms to treat any patient, regardless of medical coverage (or immigration status) threaten any local hospitals with insolvency. Maricopa County Hospital hemorrhages an estimated $2 million dollars every week on this alone. The Tucson Medical Center closed its trauma center and Kino Community hospital stopped providing emergency services due to lack of funding.

Many area hospitals are following suit. Arizona's hospitals report $1.4 billion a year in losses to uncompensated care. Arizona taxpayers have been stuck with a portion of the bill in the past; now in addition to the monetary cost, they also face a loss of adequate health care for themselves and their families because the government mandates these hospitals care for illegal aliens. The impact of providing unlimited medical services to the illegal community has cost Arizonans dearly.

This initiative is about fraud at our places of elections and abuse of your tax dollars. Almost everyone loves PAN, according to the results of a new statewide poll released. KAET-TV and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU conducted the poll, Sept. 18-21. Results of those in favor were: rural voters (83 percent), self-identified conservatives (85 percent), independents (83 percent) and Republicans (83 percent) were most supportive of the measure, most likely to vote (85 percent).

The Protect Arizona Now initiative would deny state and local social and welfare services to illegal immigrants and require people to prove they are U.S. citizens when they vote. Federally mandated services such as public education grades K thru 12 would be exempted.

Those laws are already on the books. Our initiative would only require that laws regarding the eligibility or recipients of public benefits that are already on the books, be enforced. People registering to vote would be required to "prove they are U.S. citizens" when they register to vote. When they go vote, they only have to provide a photo I.D. or other acceptable document.

Now, through the initiative process, average people seek to protect their fellow citizen taxpayers from the abuses their government allows. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing.

I suggest no compromise in defense of our neighborhoods, our cities, our state, and our country.