GOP Candidate Refuses To Explain Why She Voted For 'Birther Bill'

Arizona 'Birther Bill' Comes Back To Haunt GOP Candidate

In an interview Sunday, state Rep. Michele Reagan (R), who is running to be Arizona's secretary of state, refused to explain why she voted for a "birther bill" in 2011.

"In 2011, you voted for the birther bill, which required candidates to prove their citizenship to the secretary of state of Arizona," interviewer Brahm Resnik of 12 News said. "Would the presidential candidates in 2016 have to prove their citizenship to you?”

After an awkward pause, Reagan answered.

"I just think that we just need to follow the state laws, and the state laws are pretty clear and, um, what is required in state law is what needs to be followed," she said. "As secretary of state, the laws are very clear."

"Why vote, why vote?" Resnik interrupted. "Did you believe that President Obama needed to show his birth certificate to the secretary of state?"

"I believe that what is in state law is sufficient," Reagan replied.

"That was another bill like 1062 that did cause embarrassment for our state," Resnik continued, referring to a controversial anti-gay bill that was vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer (R) in February. "Do you recognize that?"

"I recognize that what is in state law right now is sufficient," Reagan said.

"Do you regret that vote?" Resnik asked.

"There are certain things that, I think, the state law is sufficient and we don't need to revisit that or go back and change that."

The birther bill was also vetoed by Brewer. It came to fruition during a time when "birthers" were arguing President Barack Obama was not a natural-born citizen of the United States, but rather was born in Kenya. (He was born in Hawaii.)

Watch the entire interview with Reagan here.

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