Thread: 15 Bills Focus on the Border - Texas

15 Bills Focus on the Border - Texas

What is likely to be an emotional debate about immigration reform began Monday as lawmakers filed more than 15 immigration-related bills for the 140-day state legislative session that will start in January.

Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball , was among the first filers with proposals to expand voter identification requirements at the polls and to offer an Arizona-style immigration law that would create a state crime — criminal trespass by illegal alien — for those who enter the country illegally and are detained for other offenses.

Similar proposals did not advance in previous legislative sessions. But Republicans had a two-seat majority in the House during the past session. In the next session, Republicans will control as many as 50 more House seats than Democrats, which means prospects are much improved for issues such as immigration reform that are dear to GOP activists.

"My constituents want to see that their representative is just as serious about getting the job done this session as they are," Riddle said. "They've got a real fire in their bellies."

Gov. Rick Perry has said an expansive immigration law passed in Arizona earlier this year would not be a good fit for Texas. That Arizona law, parts of which have been held up in court, requires police to question the immigration status of suspects if they have "reasonable suspicion" that they are in the country illegally.

The tough-on-immigration push will run into resistance from Democrats. When news broke Monday of Riddle's early filings, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer , a San Antonio Democrat who leads the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, posted a simple response on Twitter: "Game on."

But with such a large Republican advantage, it's unclear whether Democrats will be able to slow down measures that are popular among the state's Republican voters.

Last year, some Democrats worked on what they billed as a compromise voter ID bill. Instead of simply requiring more identification at the polls, it would have allowed voters to register at the polls during early voting and implemented the new ID requirements in four years.

"I'm afraid there's going to be very little space for that kind of bipartisan problem-solving," Rep. Mike Villarreal , D-San Antonio , said. "Because the balance between Republicans and Democrats is so extreme, they'll be able to pass just about any bill they want without having to negotiate with the other party."

Lawmakers file bills early to claim ownership of an issue and start getting buy-in from colleagues. But other factors, such as whether key committee chairmen and interest groups accept the idea, tend to play a much larger role in whether a bill becomes law than when it is filed.

Among other proposals put into the legislative hopper on the first day of bill filing:

• Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston , proposed a public vote on whether the state should allow expanded gambling, such as casinos. Two-thirds of the House and Senate would have to OK the measure — an amendment to the Texas Constitution — before the public could vote on it.

• Villarreal proposed state-funded, full-day pre-kindergarten for children who already qualify for state-funded pre-K programs that last half a day. Four-year-olds who do not speak English or come from low-income families and those who have parents on active military duty now qualify for half-day programs. Last year, key lawmakers resisted a significant expansion of pre-kindergarten programs, and such an expansion could be an even tougher sell next year because the state's budget outlook has worsened.

• Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van , proposed barring the use of tax dollars to print a public document in any language other than English.

• Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound , chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, filed a bill requiring fingerprint background checks for direct care workers at nursing homes, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, adult day cares and private facilities for people with mental disabilities. Last session, lawmakers passed a similar requirement for employees of state-supported living centers, which serve people with mental disabilities.

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-pol ... 32635.html

Keep in mind
Perry is a rino , good luck getting him to sign any bill cracking down

Bush won't let him..................

that's why there is www.stopthemagnet.com

Originally Posted by Justthefacts

Keep in mind
Perry is a rino , good luck getting him to sign any bill cracking down

Bush won't let him..................

With the current mood I'm not sure that Perry will try to block many bills. He might open up a hornets nest!

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