Texas Immigration:IRCOT Urgent Action Alert

IRCOT ACTION ALERT

Week One - 81st Legislative Session
www.ircot.com

The 81st Texas Legislative Resumed January 13, 2009!

Thanks to our Supporters
IRCOT WAS ON THE GROUND

PLEASE

READ THE FOLLOWING DISTURBING REPORT AND CONTACT SPEAKER STRAUS IMMEDIATELY

During the opening week of session, some VERY DISTURBING information was revealed concerning some "behind the scenes" negotiations on immigration legislation. While we hope the following account isn't true.....you should have the opportunity to let your elected leaders (and the new House leadership) know how the MAJORITY of Texans feel about illegal immigration.

It seems immigration legislation was the bargaining chip that Rep. Joe Straus used to garner the support of so many Democrats he swayed in the recent coup to oust Speaker Craddick.

We heard not once....but twice, from VERY reliable sources that Speaker Straus gave the Democrats his word that he would not let any immigration legislation come out of the House this session.

While MANY fine Republicans in the Senate successfully managed to exempt a Voter ID bill from the procedural rules vote on the "Blocker Bill".....it really won't matter if immigration legislation never makes it out of the House!!

The line has been drawn.......the 81st session is our ALAMO!

PLEASE -- ACT NOW!
Contact Speaker Straus TODAY

Click HERE
& SEND A FREE FAX
http://www.morrisonreport.com/fax_test/ ... p?faxID=21

Let the House Speaker know that you expect him to do EVERYTHING possible to get MANY of the strong immigration bills which have been introduced out of the House this session.

He took an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of both the State of Texas and the United States. First and foremost, his obligation is to protect and provide opportunities for U.S. CITIZENS who reside in Texas.

IT IS NOT his job to protect and provide for an illegal foreign born population who have broken our laws to enter our nation and reside in our State.

Texans have overwhelming stated in poll after poll that they want the tide of illegal immigration into Texas to end. They want Texas legislators to enact strong legislation THIS SESSION to end the magnets and end"sanctuary city" policies in Texas.

THEN....CLICK HERE
& CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
http://www.ircot.com/urgent_action.htm

Let them know that you expect them to pass legislation THIS SESSION which will protect Texas CITIZEN taxpayers from the increasing burden of providing services & benefits to illegal aliens FLOODING into Texas!

VISIT THE IRCOT SITE
VIEW A LIST OF TEXAS IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION
THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO DATE
http://www.ircot.com/pending_legislation.htm

THEN...STAY INFORMED AND HELP US TO INCREASE OUR NUMBERS:

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL ALERTS -- (CLICK ON THE ICON TO THE RIGHT)

To visit the Texas Legislature with IRCOT -- contact us at: coordinator@ircot.com

IRCOT CO-FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS:
(Names listed in alphabetical order)
Central Texans for Secure Borders (CTSB) - Austin & Surrounding Areas
Citizens for Immigration Reform (CFIR) - Dallas/Ft. Worth
Texans for Immigration Reform (TFIR) - Houston

OUR SPECIAL FRIENDS AT:
Peter Morrison Report

IRCOT PARTNERS:
Texas Border Volunteers
Texas Minutemen
US Border Watch
Women on the Wall (US-TX)

© 2008 Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas (IRCOT)

This email was sent by Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas (IRCOT), 10601 FM2222 Suite R-106, Austin, Texas 78730, using Express Email Marketing.

These are some great groups that have worked hard over the years to get anti-illegal immigration legislation passed in Texas.

Get ready to save Texas.

The good news is Texas Rep. Leo Berman as filled bill HB 266 that is similar to the Oklahoma Law.

Dixie

News > Top Stories Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009

Top Stories Posted on Mon, Jan. 19, 2009

Voter-ID issue brings back partisan struggle

By DAVE MONTGOMERYdmontgomery@star-telegram.com

AUSTIN – Legislation requiring photo IDs for voters has provoked the first hot-button confrontation of the 2009 Legislature, as Democrats and civil rights groups unite against an initiative that Republicans say is a top priority of their constituents.

The issue resurrects a partisan battle from the 2007 Legislature, when Senate Democrats blocked a photo ID bill in a stand-off against Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the Senate’s presiding officer. As lawmakers returned to work last week, the Republican-controlled Senate pushed through a major rules change to enhance the bill’s chances of passage, igniting an outcry from Democrats in both chambers.

The opposing viewpoints

The Texas Conservative Coalition, the principal organization for conservatives in the Legislature, has made enactment of the law one of its leading priorities. Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, who sponsored a photo ID bill in 2007, said that voter demands for greater "integrity" at the voting booth have intensified over the last two years, in part because of widely publicized voter fraud allegations against canvassers who registered voters for the advocacy group ACORN.

Gov. Rick Perry, in an interview with the Star-Telegram last week, has also signaled his support for the legislation.

But a coalition of civil rights and advocacy groups are demanding that the Legislature abandon the measure, saying requiring photo identification at the ballot box will disenfranchise the elderly, minorities, the handicapped, homeless people and other segments of the electorate that are unlikely to have readily available identification.

Political stakes

Photo ID legislation passed the 150-member House in 2007 before dying in the Senate. This time, opponents believe that their best hopes lie in the House, where 74 Democrats have near parity with the razor-thin, 76-vote Republican majority. The issue could also be a crucial test for House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, who took office last week with a pledge of leading the chamber away from years of divisiveness.

Partisan divisions over the measure are also on display within the Tarrant County legislative delegation. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, calls it the "anti-voter participation" bill. Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, strongly supports the measure, saying his position reflects widespread sentiments in his district.

"I think if you talk to Joe Citizen on whether people should be required to show an ID when they vote, they’ll say, 'yeah of course,â€