“It’s the Arizona effect in Massachusetts.’’

[chanel]

The Democrat-controlled Massachusetts House came within a razor-thin margin yesterday of advancing a Republican proposal to block public benefits for illegal immigrants, a reversal from last year when opponents easily torpedoed the measure.

Both sides said the unexpectedly close 75-82 vote reflected growing support for efforts to crack down on illegal immigration in Massachusetts, sparked by the recent passage of a stringent law in Arizona and frustration with stalled congressional efforts to overhaul the immigration system.

The House scuttled the GOP proposal by voting to study it further, a procedural tactic that was also used to quash the bill last year. But last year, the vote was 40-118.

“The issue of immigration is heating up again, primarily because of what’s going on in Washington and what’s going on in Arizona,’’ said Representative Jeffrey D. Perry, the bill’s sponsor, who has been making illegal immigration a centerpiece of his campaign for the 10th Congressional District.

Bill to block immigrants’ benefits fails - The Boston Globe

Yep. That "hysteria" may be back firing. I imagine there are many governors right now thinking this might be exactly the right time to do something that the majority of their citizens feel strongly about.