Urge the Texas Legislature to Pass Illegal Immigration Reduction Bills





Tell Texas House Speaker Not to Bury Illegal Immigration Bills in Dead-End Committee
This is a special message for NumbersUSA members in Texas.
Dear Texas friends,
A number of strong illegal immigration reduction bills have been introduced in the Texas State House of Representatives this year – most notably Rep. Leo Berman's Oklahoma-like enforcement bill (HB 266). Since House Speaker Joe Straus is responsible for assigning which committee will hear legislation, he has the power to promote a bill he likes by assigning it to a committee likely to pass it, or to kill a bill he dislikes by assigning it to an unfriendly committee. The Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas (IRCOT) fears Speaker Straus plans to assign this year's crop of immigration enforcement bills to dead-end committees, just like Speaker Craddick did last year.
As you may know, it is rumored that Straus, a Republican, obtained his speakership in a deal with Democrats in which he promised to bottleneck enforcement bills. True or not, Texas cannot afford to wait to see how he disposes of good legislation.
IRCOT is asking Texans to contact Speaker Straus by phone and email to ask for favorable placement of this year's bills. They have provided the following talking/drafting points:
Dear Speaker Straus:

In the 2007 session, several important bills dealing with the problem of illegal immigration were all sent to Rep. David Swinford's committee, where they were killed and not allowed to come to a floor vote.

For the 2009 session, the important immigration bills filed by Rep. Leo Berman and Rep. Debbie Riddle, and others, should not be assigned to a hostile committee and left to rot. Please ensure these bills are assigned to the appropriate committee.

I will be watching you closely to make sure you prioritize action on illegal immigration in the 2009 session.


Please help by contacting Speaker Straus as soon as possible. He is likely to assign bills very soon.

Email contact form

Phone: 512-463-1000

Thank you in advance for your assistance
Capitol Office
Room CAP 2W.13
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0686
(512) 463-1064 Fax
(512) 463-1064 Fax District Office
7373 Broadway, Suite 202-A
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 828-4411
(512) 463-1064 Fax

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/em ... joe.straus



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