Thread: Texas State lawmakers debate 'birther' bill

State lawmakers debate 'birther' bill

Posted: May 06, 2013 1:55 PM PDT Updated: May 06, 2013 3:14 PM PDT

The issue of whether or not President Obama was qualified to run for the oval office is behind a bill up for discussion at the state Capitol.

Monday is the last day for House bills to move out of committee. So it's now or never for this Texas birther bill.

It was moving day in the Texas House chamber.

As state lawmakers methodically worked through a back-log of bills Ed Sunderland was down stairs in the capitol annex waiting next to an empty committee room.

He took the day off and drove to Austin from his home in Flower Mound to testify for legislation he believes will protect the Texas ballot box.

"The Parties are the ones that determine the paperwork and the qualifications for candidacy to get on the Texas ballot and they're different there's nothing that's the same so what's this bill is trying to do is level the playing field so there is a specific application for every candidate to get on the ballot," said Sunderland.

Sunderland is what some may describe as a birther. He is adamant that President Barak Obama was not born in the U.S. and therefore was not qualified to be on any presidential ballot.

"Somebody should have done something about this," Sunderland said.

HB-650 was drafted to address concerns about candidate qualifications.

The legislation, sponsored by Arlington Republican Bill Zedler, requires the Texas Secretary of State to basically do a citizenship background check. The check list includes verifying the candidate is a natural born U.S. citizen by obtaining a certified copy of the candidate's birth certificate.

Political analysts Chuck McDonald says this Republican drafted Birther bill could cause problems for up and coming GOP star Ted Cruz who got a big reception at the NRA convention in Houston last week.

"Yeah if anyone should be concern about this legislation is our current US Senator from Texas. He is the one that's got residency issues," McDonald said.

Here's the rub, according to political analyst chuck McDonald, Cruz was born in Canada. But he has an oval office loophole. His mother had American citizenship and because of her status he is considered a natural born citizen.

This congressional report verified that argument for Cruz two years ago, ironically for the president. While the issue could cause a headache for Cruz on the campaign trail, McDonald says HB 650 has little political value.

"I think the capacity for inane and idiotic legislation is as infinite as the universe," said McDonald.

While HB 650 is waiting all those gun bills passed in the House Saturday were given final approval Monday and moved on to the state Senate.

The School Marshall Bill appears to have the best chance of reaching the governor's desk. It would set a statewide standard on how to train and arm undercover school employees with guns. Representative Jason Villalba, who drafted the legislation spoke to me today about why he believes his plan will work.

"This will unquestionably change the paradigm in Texas because what we have now is a situation where people, the school are unprotected with this we know if a perpetrator wants to come into our school there will be a bright sign posted right at the front door that says this school is protected by a certified school marshal enter at your own risk and I think that perpetrator will think twice about coming into our schools to hurt children," Villalba said.

The Dallas Republican headed straight to the state senate after his School Marshall Bill won final passage on a 123 to 22 vote.

Everything is moving at a fast pace right now. The session is set to wrap up at the end of the month.

http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/221...#ixzz2SYTRh4kP

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