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Aug 26, 2011

Statement on Horne's attack on Voting Rights Act

Luis Heredia, Arizona Democratic Party executive director, issued this statement today:

"Attorney General Tom Horne has filed an overreaching lawsuit attacking the Voting Rights Act. This lawsuit is yet another political stunt from Horne's office. It's also another GOP attempt to undermine Arizona's independent redistricting process.

"This landmark legislation of the Civil Rights era was reauthorized in 2006 with overwhelming bipartisan support. In the House of Representatives, it passed 390 to 33, with even Republican Representative Jeff Flake voting yes. In the Senate, the 98 'aye' votes included Republican Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl.

"At the time, Senator Kyl said, 'The Voting Rights Act is a historic achievement that has corrected one of the glaring injustices of our nation's past. It has been an important step in our nation's continuing progress toward our founding ideal that all men are created equal.' [Congressional Record]

"Tom Horne is quickly turning the Attorney General’s Office into a partisan swamp similar to what Andrew Thomas did to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Horne needs to be reminded he represents all Arizonans."

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