Protect Arizona Now OK'd for ballot. Anti-Immigration Forces Mobilize

Mainstream business, political and labor leaders will take over the battle against the state's anti-illegal-immigration initiative under a new strategy calling Protect Arizona Now a danger to the state's economy. Hispanic leaders plan to move to the background as the Arizona Chamber of Commerce joins other business, labor and civil rights groups in trying to defeat the measure, which aims to combat voter and welfare fraud. Proposition 200 is now certain to be on the Nov. 2 ballot because of a Maricopa County Superior Court judge's ruling Tuesday. Judge Mark Armstrong rejected claims by a national labor union that petition signatures collected on behalf of the measure were inaccurate and that some circulators were unqualified to gather signatures.  Scott Washburn, Arizona director of the Services Employees International Union, which pursued the case, said the group will not appeal to the state's Supreme Court. [more ]