The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the brains behind the voter restriction laws being pushed all over the country and the terrible Florida shoot-first gun law, is teaming up with the most conservative group in the House of Representatives to push policies both groups like. This is happening while ALEC is being abandoned by its former corporate partners.

The San Luis port of entry opened two new lanes yesterday -- I was there to cut the ribbon and talk a bit about why improving and speeding up cross-border traffic is good for our economy. As the Yuma Sun reports, my Border Infrastructure and Jobs Act would put more money and manpower into our ports of entry and help the region. The conservative House majority is blocking it.

The Constitution was upheld in Alabama this week, where a law requiring school teachers and administrators to check and report the immigration status of every student and their parents at the time of enrollment was struck down. We're not a nation ruled by fear. Schools should be educating students, not using them as political weapons. This was the right and legal result.

I met with San Luis port of entry officials yesterday to discuss how we can prevent further health risks to people returning on foot from Mexico. It's time we protected retirees who have had to wait in the heat for three hours without emergency services nearby. This is a great KYMA story outlining what's going on and what's going to happen next.

The Republican Party has formally made promoting SB 1070 around the country part of its 2012 platform. I'll be on Jansing and Co. on MSNBC tomorrow at 7 a.m. Arizona time (10 a.m. Eastern) to discuss why this is a terrible idea and won't help Republicans in the long run.

My response to Rep. Akin's "legitimate rape" remark: The entire government should work seriously to help women instead of making their lives more difficult. When we focus on
the economy, fair wages and protecting working mothers and their families, we all win. When people speaking for the fringe condemn women as second-class, we all lose.

I'm visiting with San Luis Port of Entry officials on Tuesday to discuss why retirees are being made to wait in the heat for up to three hours when they return on foot from Mexico. People have been fainting and emergency services aren't always adequate. This is something we're going to have to fix quickly, and I'm hopeful we'll find some solutions.

I'm going on with Bill Buckmaster at noon to talk about what's going on in Congress and here in Southern Arizona. Listen online at http://kvoi.streamon.fm/ and, as always, let me know how I did.

My statement on Gov. Brewer's scheme: "I’m holding an informational community workshop at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the VFW center in Nogales. Gov. Brewer is fighting yesterday’s battles on behalf of an outdated agenda few people agree with. I’m glad to provide assistance and serve the people of Southern Arizona; I don’t know what Gov. Brewer is glad about."

The new policy bringing young people out of legal limbo with their immigration status kicked in yesterday -- there are lots of places to learn more, and I'm holding a workshop on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the VFW in Nogales. You'll keep hearing that this is "controversial," but 73 percent of Arizonans support the DREAM Act. It's not controversial to help young people.

All the information everyone needs on how the new immigration policy works. Visit the link for an easy-to-follow graphic explanation of the process to apply for deferred status and a work permit. You can always check http://www.uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals for more information. This is the law now. Understand it and know what's going on.

I was proud to present the Grijalva Award to Stewart Grabel and our dear departed friend Lydia Baker on behalf of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans yesterday. The Daily Star coverage focused on where Social Security policy could be headed. Give it a read.