A Push for Arizona-Style Immigration Laws Stalls Out

In his successful campaign to become Florida's governor last year, Rick Scott argued that his state needed an immigration law similar to the controversial statute passed in Arizona, which gives police broad powers to question people about their legal status. He skewered his opponent in the primary for calling the law too "far out." Governor Scott has since learned that a lot of his fellow Republicans agree with that assessment. The state's Republican-dominated legislature adjourned for the year on May 7 without agreeing on an immigration bill, much to the relief of business groups, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, that came out strongly against the measure.

"We did not want to see damage done to Florida's brand," says David Hart, executive vice-president of the Florida Chamber, citing the potential blow to the state's tourism industry if Florida came to be viewed as "inhospitable" to foreign visitors.