Posted on 11/22/2006 6:49:49 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS 11 News) AUSTIN -- Texas lawmakers are ready to pounce on the illegal immigrant issue when they start their next session in January.
With the Democrats in charge in Washington, conservatives in Texas plan to put their imprint on a variety of issues ranging from abortion to school vouchers.
Their biggest push by far, however, will be passage of a host of bills dealing with illegal immigrants, including one that just might challenge the 14th Amendment, which defines citizenship and requires states to provide civil rights to anyone born on U.S. soil.
In Austin, Republicans began are heading to the state Capitol with stacks of bills aimed at cutting off benefits to illegal aliens, taxing their remittances south of the border, and requiring proof of citizenship at the voting booth. The harshest bill would deny welfare and other benefits even to the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens — rights supposedly given them under the 14th Amendment.
Latino groups, who were only recently being wooed by Republican candidates, were left aghast at the onslaught, calling it "a hate campaign" against immigrants and "anti-human being".
John Colyandro, director of the Texas Conservative Coalition, expects a broad array of legislation targeting benefits to illegals, as well as voter verification of citizenship, employer sanctions for hiring illegal aliens, and additional funding for border security. He says the two extremes of the current immigration debate — deporting all illegals or granting amnesty to all — are "unworkable and frankly intolerable."
Under the bill proposed by Republican state Rep. Leo Berman, of Tyler, children born in Texas to illegal aliens would be denied state unemployment or public assistance benefits like food stamps as well as professional licenses.
Berman argues that in Texas alone there are an estimated two million illegal aliens whose U.S.-born children get these benefits, which go largely un-reimbursed by the federal government.
Critics argue that the proposed measures are rooted in racism and fear and that those in the United States illegally contribute more to the economy than they take. They say Texas should take a less draconian approach to fighting illegal immigration.
"It is unChristian, it is unAmerican and any religious order would be against legislation that is so hateful," said state Rep. Norma Chávez, D-El Paso, a member of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Both sides are readying for a fierce battle.
In 2006, more than 550 immigration-related bills were proposed in legislatures nationwide, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thirty-three states adopted nearly 80 bills, covering topics ranging from employment to public benefits and access to driver's licenses. Several states adopted measures to increase penalties for human smuggling and trafficking.
Here is a look at some of the 2007 Texas proposals -
House Bill 28 would bar the babies of illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits such as food stamps, health care or public housing.
House Bill 29 would impose an 8-percent fee on money transfers between Texas and Mexico, Central and South America.
House Bill 104 and House Bill 141 would take away the right for illegal immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at public universities.
BUMP
Cool.
TEXAS LEAD THE CHARGE!! REMEMBER THE ALAMO!
Go Texas. They were responsible for the disastrous Plyler v Doe case but it wasn't their fault we had a terrible liberal USSC. This time we might get more favorable rulings.
So where does it say they have the right in the first place. They never earned it to begin with. No bleeding heart here.
Republican suicide.
Ms Chavez seems to blithly overlook the concept that no sane people continue to take swimmers into their lifeboat to the point of sinking it. Such is the quality of liberal thinking....if it can be called thinking.
Oh, oh... has anyone broken this news to Dane yet? /s
I'd be very curious as to the results of a fair study. My guess is that the data wouldn't support what the "critics" claim or such a study would be done.
I'd be more than willing to give conditional or probational green cards to the best of the illegal alien crop as certain measurable goals were met, such as deportation of gang bangers, criminals, welfare teat suckers and reconquisadoras. Something similar but a little more humane than, say, the Mexican laws on activities permitted by illegal immigrants.
Eisenhower did the same in the fifties and the GOP just kept right on winning.
The only way it would be suicide is if you plan to keep the borders open while importing millions upon millions more while never enforcing the laws as the Wall St. Journal advocates, then yes in that case I guess the GOP had better start kissing up.
Guess I wasn't aware the 14th Amendment granted the right to welfare.
Yessssssss!
Go Texas!!
Somebody better pay attention to the recent republican election bloodbath in Dallas County. Houston in 2008. Fort Worth in 2010
Does those losses have anything to do with influx of liberals and immigrants
If the illegals hadn't been allowed in to begin with do you think all these conservative counties and states would suddenly be going democrat? What's your answer? No need to tell me, I already know, since you want the endless train of cheap labor as well as the GOP power for the lower taxes and regulations you expect conservatives to kiss up to the invaders. Nope, not going to happen...
Thank you.
for later
hi!
Happy thanksgiving.
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