GOP proud to feature Brewer at local event

Jorge Navarro was particularly hateful in his April 8 guest viewpoint, “Jan Brewer, peddler of divisiveness, crosses line.” Former Arizona Governor Brewer came to Eugene to discuss important topics affecting all Americans, including members of the Lane County Republican Party. Rational people were exercising their First Amendment rights. There was no need for hostility and bullying.

The Lane County Republican Party was honored to have keynote speaker Brewer during our annual Lincoln Day Dinner. It was a sold-out event and a great party!

The Lane County Republican Party is here to find, develop and support people who will provide public policy for better jobs, better educational opportunities and better individual freedom for all Oregonians.

Gov. Brewer’s political courage is well-documented, and her perspective was interesting. She is a strong leader who supports our constitutional civil rights — especially the first 10 amendments, which serve to limit the overreach of big government and protect our individual freedoms. It is important to listen and learn from other leaders to build future success in Oregon.

One of her topics was her experience with the issue of immigration. The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of warmth and security, welcoming immigrants to the United States. People come to America looking for better lives, opportunities and freedom as they pursue happiness, which happens to be one our party’s goals in public policy. They sacrifice everything that is familiar to work for a better life for themselves and their families. They deserve our respect.

Drawn by the opportunities created by our constitutionally guaranteed individual freedom, legal immigrants are an investment in our nation’s collective future. They’re not coming for a handful of government crumbs. Supporting the brave people who waited in line, followed the law and passed the citizenship test is the right way to begin the American dream, regardless of country of origin.

Arizona is rich with blended cultures unique to the southwestern United States. “Everyone admits that the federal immigration system is broken,” said Navarro in his column, and Brewer agreed — she discussed the broken system, with California, Texas and New Mexico having their borders defended, but not Arizona, because of its federal lands, nearly 100 miles deep, being left open by the federal government, porous and undefended.

It is a dangerous problem. The feds put up warning signs advertising the danger, but continue to stiff-arm practical solutions. Brewer believes securing the border in Arizona is an issue of public safety and states’ rights. Senate Bill 1070, which Navarro criticized so strongly, simply provided enforcement of the federal 1996 Immigration Act passed by a bipartisan Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton. Brewer’s attempts to invoke states’ rights to keep Arizonians safe were vilified, leaving the people who live there at serious risk. Supporting legal immigration is the right thing to do. Reforming the current system is urgently needed, starting with securing our borders.

While Brewer was working to protect the citizens of Arizona, the Oregon Legislature passed a driver’s card law that was referred to voters by petition as Measure 88. Many people, fearful of being called the names Navarro used in his column, did not openly participate, and candidates refused to answer questions. Grass-roots groups like Oregonians for Immigration Reform took up the effort. In a state where we can barely agree on the time of day, Oregonians overwhelmingly voted no on Measure 88. Nearly 66 percent of voters voted to respect the law.

Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano left Arizona in turmoil when she escaped to Washington, D.C., to become head of the Department of Homeland Security. Brewer took over in Arizona as it was floundering. She led the effort to cut state spending to $8 billion a year from $11.5 billion. She rebalanced Medicaid in Arizona, expanding it to include the less fortunate with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

Brewer defended her support for Obamacare, calling it a “moral issue” when it was certainly not popular to do so with Republicans. Brewer is a member of the National Rifle Association and strong advocate of constitutional Second Amendment rights, but she vetoed a bill that would have allowed guns on college campuses. She supported her state’s version of national standards to ensure that children were getting an education for the global future. She supported equal rights for LGBT communities, stopping Senate Bill 1062 with her veto — a proposal that would have allowed business owners to refuse services based on sexual orientation.

Oregon deserves leaders with political courage. The Lane County Republican Party was proud to listen to Gov. Brewer as our guest as we continue to stand up here at home for better jobs, better educational opportunities and better individual freedom for all Oregonians.

Cindy Land is chairwoman of the Lane County Republican Central Committee.