Lt Gov Dewhurst Asks for Cost Estimates to Expand Border Security

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by Bob Price 1 Nov 2014, 8:47 AM PDT

HOUSTON, Texas – Lt. Governor David Dewhurst asked the Texas National Guard (TNG) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide cost estimates to expand the current border security operations underway along the Texas-Mexico border. In addition to expanding the operation to covering more of the border, the governor is asking for estimates to carry the operation through 2016.

“While defending our borders is, without question, a federal responsibility, Texas has an obligation to defend itself independently of the federal government when Washington fails to fulfill its Constitutional duties,” Dewhurst said in a letter to the DPS and TNG obtained by Breitbart Texas. “As policymakers continue discussion on how to fill the void left by Washington, it is important that the debate be informed by sound strategy and honest budgetary considerations.” Dewhurst's letter is attached below for reference.

Dewhurst wrote the request to Colonel Steven McCraw, Texas DPS Director and Major General John Nichols, TNG Adjutant General. He requested the department leaders to provide cost estimates for the Offices of the Lt. Governor, Governor and Speaker of the House along with other lawmakers who are involved in the process.

He requested cost estimates for the following options:

1.Extending current surge operations to cover the entirety of the Rio Grande Valley;
2.Extending current surge operations to cover the entirety of the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo sectors;
3.Extending current surge operations to cover the entirety of the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Del Rio sectors; and
4.Extending current surge operations to cover the entirety of Texas’ southwest border.

The Lt. Governor emphasized the leveraging of technology as a force multiplier, especially in the less densely-trafficked portions of border regions. He also asked for an update on any potential federal conflicts that might interfere with the use of technology resources so that communications with the Texas Congressional delegation could be contacted for assistance.

“The threats faced by Texans from transnational criminal enterprises are real and significant,” Dewhurst wrote in his concluding paragraph. “Potential terror and biological threats similarly magnify the necessity to ensure that we have plans in pace as soon as possible to protect our citizens.”

This summer, Dewhurst joined Governor Rick Perry and House Speaker Joe Straus in announcing the deployment of DPS troopers and up to 1,000 TNG soldiers to secure a small portion of the Rio Grande Sector of the border. Dewhurst reported in his letter that the Rio Grande Valley sector “has experienced a greater-than-two-thirds drop in illegal border crossings since late June. In effect, DPS and the National Guard have shown that, when sufficient resources are utilized, it is possible to make significant strides in securing our southern border.”

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-T...order-Security

If the feds push TX to doing this much for border security, maybe the Republic of Texas should be receiving from the USA port fees, be free of federal taxes, and receive foreign aid from the USA. I do not think Texas would be alone in such an idea, when it gets started, watch the House of Cards tumble.