Gop Leaders Want To Impeach Federal Judge

Clearwater County Republican Party leaders are launching a petition drive to get GOP Sen. Larry Craig to try to impeach a federal judge who has ruled California’s anti-immigrant initiative unconstitutional.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Mariana Plaelzer in Los Angeles ruled a California law denying public services to undocumented immigrants is an illegal attempt by the state to regulate immigration, which is the responsibility of the federal government.

Clearwater County GOP Chairman Homer Ferguson said about a dozen party members signed the petition during a recent meeting of the party’s central committee. The document calls on Craig to file articles of impeachment against Plaelzer.

“I don’t think what the judge in California did was right, and I think one way to deal with it is to impeach the judge,” Ferguson said. “We could pass such a law in Idaho.”

Health and Welfare Director Linda Caballero told lawmakers on Tuesday that she did not believe illegal aliens were a significant factor in Idaho’s welfare system.

Ferguson maintained that many illegal immigrants are working as tree planters for the U.S. Forest Service.

Clearwater County Democratic Party Chairman John Swayne said the county’s Democratic central committee has not discussed the issue.