Help us get the votes needed to stop SB 1398. This is a bill that would prevent the City of Farmers Branch and others from imposing restrictions on those who rent to illegal aliens – is scheduled for a floor vote in the Texas House of Representatives on Thursday, May 21.

Talking Points for Representatives (IRCOT)

• Please vote no on SB 1398. Although the bill does not mention illegal immigration, it is aimed at cities like Farmers Branch to stop their ability to deal with illegal immigration through the granting of licenses for the occupancy of single and multifamily dwellings. Cities have attempted to enact ordinances that require only legal residents to occupy housing in their communities.

• The City of Farmers Branch has spent well over $1 million to defend its license ordinance. If passed into law, SB 1398 would interfere with ongoing legal proceedings concerning the validity of the ordinance requiring a rental license to occupy a single or multifamily unit in the city. It would strip a city’s local control to issue licenses and cost tax payers a great deal of money in the process.

• The bill is an end-around of the legal system and violates the rights of Texas cities to regulate local affairs. Stopping the Farmers Branch efforts with this legislation will also eliminate the possibility of other communities benefiting from the outcome of the court concerning illegal immigration. In effect, the legislation would derail efforts by many communities to help the federal government address the illegal immigration problem.

Also, please contact Speaker Joe Straus and your Representative and ask them to work to defeat SB 1398.

We especially need help convincing Democrats to vote NO:

House Calendar Committee

Chairman Brian McCall (512) 463-0594

Burt Solomons (512) 463-0478

Charlie Geren (512) 463-0610

Norma Chavez (512) 463-0622

Garnett Coleman (512) 463-0524

Byron Cook (512) 463-0730

Brandon Creighton (512) 463-0726

Jim Keffer (512) 463-0656

Lois Kolkhorst (512) 463-0600

Edmund Kuempel (512) 463-0602

Eddie Lucio (512) 463-0606

Jim McReynolds (512) 463-0490

Alan Ritter (512) 463-0706

Speaker Joe Straus
Phone: (512) 463-1064
E-mail: Joe.Straus@house.state.tx.us

Ask Rick Perry to veto this bill if it makes it to his desk.
Contact Governor Rick Perry
Phone: 1-800-843-5789 OR (512) 463-2000
http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/contact.aspx

We also need help in contacting Democratic Senators and asking them to vote YES onSB 358, which would prohibit local government "sanctuary city" policies that protect illegal aliens. Tuesday, May 26 is the last day of session, so only a few days are left to pass this important bill.

Democratic Senators to Contact

Davis, Wendy (512) 463-0110

Ellis, Rodney (512) 463-0113

Gallegos, Mario, Jr. (512) 463-0106

Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy" (512) 463-0120

Lucio, Eddie, Jr. (512) 463-0127

Shapleigh, Eliot (512) 463-0129

Uresti, Carlos (512) 463-0119

Van de Putte, Leticia (512) 463-0126

Watson, Kirk (512) 463-0114

West, Royce (512) 463-0123

Whitmire, John (512) 463-0115

Zaffirini, Judith (512) 463-0121

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
Phone: (512) 463-0001
E-mail form: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php

Ask Rick Perry to use his power to get YES votes.
Contact Governor Rick Perry
Phone: 1-800-843-5789 OR (512) 463-2000
http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/contact.aspx


Talking Points for Dem. Senators – Support Anti-Sanctuary City Bill (IRCOT)

• Please vote YES on SB 358 and end the dangerous sanctuary city policies in Texas. Sanctuary city policies enable violent criminal illegal aliens to remain within our communities without fear of being detected or deported. Too many Texans (including Texas law enforcement officers) have been killed or seriously injured because of the sanctuary given to illegal aliens by city officials.

• Sanctuary policies are illegal under Federal law, but a number of local governments in Texas still maintain policies that forbid police from asking about a person's immigration status or informing Federal immigration authorities about the presence of illegal aliens. The resulting safe havens make it easier for illegal aliens, including criminal aliens, to live undetected in the United States. It is dangerous, expensive and counterproductive to keep recycling illegal aliens through our justice system.

• Texas has sanctuary policies that do not just allow, but actually encourage illegal alien presence and activity. When public assistance agencies are prevented from inquiring about an applicant's immigration status, benefits are distributed to ineligible illegal aliens. These outrageous sanctuary policies are displacing benefits for needy Americans. Taxpayers should no longer have to foot the bill for illegal-alien public benefits.

• 90% of the U.S. based MS-13 gang members are foreign-born illegal aliens. (per "Line in the Sand: Confronting the Threat on the SW Border," Majority Staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Investigations; 2006 U.S. Congressional Texas Hearings)

We have lots of support from:
IRCOT CO-FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS:
Central Texans for Secure Borders (CTSB) - Austin & Surrounding Areas
Citizens for Immigration Reform (CFIR) - Dallas/Ft. Worth
Texans for Immigration Reform (TFIR) - Houston
Peter Morrison
IRLI
JUDICIAL WATCH
NUMBERS USA
EAGLE FORUM
TEXAS EAGLE FORUM

Thanks for your help!!!