A state Senate panel Tuesday voted to take the first steps to spending $30 million tax dollars to build a virtual fence on the border with Mexico. 

State Sen. Bob Worsley wants Arizona to put 300 towers along its southern border, and outfit them with cameras and radar for what he admits are basically political purposes. Worsley says Republicans in Congress have told the Obama administration they will only support immigration reform when the border is secured. He says that has to be confirmed by the border states.

“How do we confirm to the federal government that, in fact, the border is secure if we don't trust them and we don't have any mechanism to verify that, in fact, the border has reached operational control?” Worsley asked.

He says his virtual fence is inexpensive enough to provide that. Yet, Republican Senator Chester Crandall says the system amounts to little more than a glorified video system and calls the $30 million price tag, in his words, a pretty huge chunk of money that could go to education.