Attorney Barry Wong (R) candidate for Arizona Corporate Commission that regulates utilities and commission gets federal stimulus funding
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 5, 2010
Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney Barry Wong, a Republican who is trying to get elected to the utilities commission in Arizona wants to deny service to illegal immigrants in state. Wong is a candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) that regulates power, gas, and other utilities. The ACC election is on August 24.
As a lawyer, Wong just over looked one important thing, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. found that ACC receives Federal Stimulus Funds and awards loans to companies that will help bring new energy, water and telecommunications projects to the state. Since ACC gets federal funds, denying service to the public or in this case illegal immigrants can be construed as discrimination while operating with federal funds. Wong should know better, then to use federal taxpayer funds to discriminate. Good try Attorney Wong, but the feds won't be to generous and stand idle while your proposal attempts to deny service to taxpayers who also happen to be illegal immigrants.
Last week Tuesday, Wong told The Arizona Republic, if elected, he would require regulated utilities to check the immigration status of customers, a move he says would keep costs down for other customers.
Serving a growing number of people with power, he said, raises utility rates because it requires building new power plants. He said asking utilities not to serve illegal immigrants could protect other ratepayers from utility hikes.
"I'm sure there will be criticism about human-rights violations," Wong said of his utility proposal. "Is power or natural gas or any type of utility we regulate, is that a right that people have? It is not a right. It is a service," the Arizona Republic reported.
But denying service to a particular group defeats the purpose of the ACC, making sure proposals approved by the commission doesn't impede generating revenues for utility companies. Wong's proposal limits a particular group from buying services.
The Arizona Public Service Co., Tucson Electric Power Co. and private water companies are regulated by ACC.
Wong served four-terms in the state House of Representatives and was appointed to a temporary spot on the commission in 2006.
He owns rental properties and rents to immigrants in Phoenix.
The ACC received federal stimulus funding and provides the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Federal Stimulus Website.The site is designed to allow Arizonans to track the activities of the State’s regulated electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications companies as they apply for and use funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 "ARRA."
The Commission regularly posts on this website information regarding utility ARRA grant applications updates on grants and loan awards that will help bring new energy, water and telecommunications projects to the state, as well as correspondence regarding ARRA. The AZCC Website states, We welcome your participation in this effort to monitor and encourage the wise and transparent utilization of taxpayer dollars.
ACC and Federal Stimulus Funds at Internet link: http://bit.ly/bRucnv
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By H. Nelson Goodson
July 5, 2010
Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney Barry Wong, a Republican who is trying to get elected to the utilities commission in Arizona wants to deny service to illegal immigrants in state. Wong is a candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) that regulates power, gas, and other utilities. The ACC election is on August 24.
As a lawyer, Wong just over looked one important thing, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. found that ACC receives Federal Stimulus Funds and awards loans to companies that will help bring new energy, water and telecommunications projects to the state. Since ACC gets federal funds, denying service to the public or in this case illegal immigrants can be construed as discrimination while operating with federal funds. Wong should know better, then to use federal taxpayer funds to discriminate. Good try Attorney Wong, but the feds won't be to generous and stand idle while your proposal attempts to deny service to taxpayers who also happen to be illegal immigrants.
Last week Tuesday, Wong told The Arizona Republic, if elected, he would require regulated utilities to check the immigration status of customers, a move he says would keep costs down for other customers.
Serving a growing number of people with power, he said, raises utility rates because it requires building new power plants. He said asking utilities not to serve illegal immigrants could protect other ratepayers from utility hikes.
"I'm sure there will be criticism about human-rights violations," Wong said of his utility proposal. "Is power or natural gas or any type of utility we regulate, is that a right that people have? It is not a right. It is a service," the Arizona Republic reported.
But denying service to a particular group defeats the purpose of the ACC, making sure proposals approved by the commission doesn't impede generating revenues for utility companies. Wong's proposal limits a particular group from buying services.
The Arizona Public Service Co., Tucson Electric Power Co. and private water companies are regulated by ACC.
Wong served four-terms in the state House of Representatives and was appointed to a temporary spot on the commission in 2006.
He owns rental properties and rents to immigrants in Phoenix.
The ACC received federal stimulus funding and provides the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Federal Stimulus Website.The site is designed to allow Arizonans to track the activities of the State’s regulated electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications companies as they apply for and use funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 "ARRA."
The Commission regularly posts on this website information regarding utility ARRA grant applications updates on grants and loan awards that will help bring new energy, water and telecommunications projects to the state, as well as correspondence regarding ARRA. The AZCC Website states, We welcome your participation in this effort to monitor and encourage the wise and transparent utilization of taxpayer dollars.
ACC and Federal Stimulus Funds at Internet link: http://bit.ly/bRucnv
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
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