The Arizona Legislature has passed a bill requiring Presidential candidates provide proof of natural-born citizenship before being placed on the ballot.
The bill, also known as House Bill 2177, was approved Thursday night and now goes to Governor Jan Brewer for final approval.
The measure passed the Senate with a 20 -9 vote earlier in the week.
According to an article at azcentral.com:
If Brewer chooses to veto the bill, Republican lawmakers could attempt an override vote. The bill would become law if two-thirds of legislators supported the override.
The bill requires anyone running for President or Vice President of the United States provide documents showing they are natural born U.S. citizens. Candidates will be allowed to provide either a long-form birth certificate, or two or more other permitted documents such as a baptismal certificate or hospital birth record.
Candidates who fail to submit the proper documents will not be on the ballot. A candidate can also be kept off the ballot if the Arizona Secretary of State determines the documents are invalid or insufficient.
During the debate in the Senate, Democrats argued that state officials were not fully qualified to determine the validity of documents a candidate might produce.
The bill was inspired by questions regarding the actual birthplace of Barack Obama. A recent Fox News poll shows that nearly 25 percent of voters do not believe he was born in Hawaii, as he states.
One Democratic Representative - Reuben Gallego of Phoenix - not only voted against the bill, he insulted an entire southern state - Alabama - in his remarks:
"Arizona is the first state to pass a birther bill. We look pretty much backward," Gallego said. "You might as well change Arizona to Alabama."
Republicans, however, say the bill is necessary to ensure a candidate meets the requirements set forth in the Constitution for the highest office in the land.
Speaker of the House Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, said he voted for the bill only because the final version, he believes, is constitutional and the bill requires all candidates - including those for local office - to show that they meet the individual requirements of their office.
"I believe this particular piece of legislation does not add to or detract from the qualifications for president as stated in the United States Constitution," Adams said.
Nevertheless, if Governor Brewer signs the bill - or does nothing and allows it to become law after five days - any candidate for President and Vice President - including Barack Obama and Joe Biden - will be required to prove they are natural born citizens before being placed on the ballot in Arizona.
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