In the Arizona Legislature's latest attempt to make the Grand Canyon State the laughing stock of the entire country, House of Representatives members advanced HB 2441, or as it is more infamously known, the "birther bill."
Legislators voted 31-22 yesterday to advance the bill, which would require President Barack Obama to produce his birth certificate if he wants to be on the ballot in Arizona in 2012.
If you think nobody's laughing, here's what the L.A. Times had to say about the bill -- and our Legislature:
How 'bout that Arizona legislature? Demonstrating that the best political myths have half lives that rival some radioactive isotopes.
Here's what E.D. Kain at the American Times had to say:
Arizona -- or at least the Arizona state legislature -- is really becoming something of a theatre of the absurd. Just when things couldn't get any crazier, the Arizona House of Representatives proved us all wrong and voted on the nation's first 'birther bill.'
The bill is the brainchild of Skull Valley Republican Judy Burgess and has Democratic legislators frustrated.
"This bill is nothing more than a waste of taxpayers time when the Legislature should be working to fix more important issues," says state Representative Kyrsten Sinema. "A presidential candidate already is required to prove that he or she is a naturally born citizen before they can run for that office."
The bill still faces a formal vote before it is sent to the Senate. Even if it doesn't pass in the Senate, which it probably will, the fact that it's even getting discussed is a lose-lose for Arizona.
