Texas Dem. chair on Perry's 'anti-Latino record'

CNN ^ | 10/07/11

[freespirited]

Don't call Texas Gov. Rick Perry soft on immigration, said the chair of his state's Democratic Party.

"His anti-Latino record, I think, speaks for itself," said Texas Democratic leader Boyd Richie during a visit to the New Hampshire Democratic Party headquarters Friday. "To say that he's soft on immigration is just flat wrong."

The Texas governor has been soundly pummeled by conservatives for his support of a 2001 bill that granted in-state college tuition to the children of some illegal immigrants....

Richie said in an interview Friday that he gave the governor credit for passing the bill - a move which, as Perry has repeatedly told audiences, would keep those students "off the government dole" and which received overwhelming support in the state legislature.

But Richie pointed to Perry's push earlier this term to censure so-called "sanctuary cities" that protect illegal immigrants as an example of his hard-line on immigration.

He also cited Perry's support for a more rigid voter identification bill - which Democrats believe will lower voter turnout among minorities - as evidence of his position.

[South40]

Because the ones who get in-state tuition have to be on the path to citizenship.

Impossible.

ILLEGAL aliens cannot apply for citizenship.

[txroadkill]

Impossible. ILLEGAL aliens cannot apply for citizenship.

you're right, but a legal resident can and a lot of the illegals can change their status. That is what we require in Texas to get in-state tuition. Keep in mind that a lot of illegals are people who entered the country legally but overstayed there visas, work permits, etc.

That's where the catch is, now we know where they are, we know where to find them and in order to stay in school and stay on the program they must cooperate fully with the USCIS. That means they don't skip their court dates, they pay their fines and stay out of trouble. It's not like every person who swam across the Rio Grande get to come to our schools with a discount, there are a lot of strings attached and even though they benefit greatly from the program, in the long run we benefit even more.

[South40]

Thanks, but I have read HB 1403, SB 152 and TEC 54.052 -- so I am acutely aware of the requirements needed for ILLEGAL aliens to get taxpayer subsidized benefits in Texas.

I am curious, however, why you would say the ILLEGAL aliens had to be "on a path to citizenship" when that clearly isn't true? I've had this discussion with many Perry supporters who have all said the same thing. How is it a Californian (me) knows that yet Perry's supporters/defenders do not?

[txroadkill]

I've had this discussion with many Perry supporters who have all said the same thing. How is it a Californian (me) knows that yet Perry's supporters/defenders do not?

Because it is required, the problem is that the USCIS is so back up there is no way to believe that they can get their status changed in the same amount of time that it takes to finish school. But, as you pointed out, it does no good to get the degree if they do not change their status.

However, I think you have decided that Texas' attempt to put a small dent into a massive problem we have is just not something you approve of so this conversation is moot, I don't like it either, I just don't want it characterized as something it's not. We are left with very few options and it is getting worse each and every time Obama takes a bus load of illegals from your state and transports them to mine. The belief that every illegal swimming across the Rio Grande is getting a hand out from Rick Perry is just not an accurate belief and of all the people running he is the only one in the fight and is the only one who has any real understanding of the issue and that puts him at the top of the line for me. But regardless of what Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum want people to believe, people are not flooding across the border to get a $151 discount at our Jr. Colleges, you can't fence the Rio Grande and it's the US Governments fault that we are being over run by illegals, not the State of Texas or Rick Perry.

The one advantage that Texans have over most states is that the illegals here are at least state tax payers too, so if their kids make it into to college here then they have the same skin in the game that I do as far as the state schools goes, the difference is when my kids graduate they get to use their degree, assuming there are any jobs for them.

We have somewhere around 1.1 to 1.2 million illegals in our state that we are forced to educate, feed and provide medical care for and while we're doing that we are still out performing, out growing and out producing the rest of the country and that says a lot more about Rick Perry than some stupid comment he made in the middle of a debate.

[South40]

Nice circular argument. 'Path to citizenship' is not required. It is in fact not even possible as ILLEGAL aliens cannot apply for citizenship.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Naturalization is commonly referred to as the manner in which a person not born in the United States voluntarily becomes a U.S. citizen.

General Naturalization Provisions - The basic requirements for naturalization that every applicant must meet, unless a member of a special class. General provisions require an applicant to be at least 18 years of age and a lawful permanent resident with five years of continuous residence in the United States, have been physically present in the country for half that period, and have established good moral character for at least that period.

http://www.dhs.gov/files/statistics/stdfdef.shtm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ILLEGAL aliens are not LPRs, “lawful permanent residents” and therefore cannot apply for US citizenship. So your original comment, "Because the ones who get in-state tuition have to be on the path to citizenship" remains inaccurate.

[txroadkill]

Tell you what South, I will concede that "path to citizenship" is a bad term and even misleading, it is accurate to say that the law requires them to be on a path to legal resident (which is possible for an illegal depending on their situation) and even that term is lose as there is really no way to enforce it other then them giving their word.

But I am curious, Herman Cain supported Mike Huckabee in 2008, he even donated money to Huckabee. Herman Cain said that he could not be on a ticket with Perry because Cain said while he hasn't,“totally gone through all of [Perry’s] positions, but a lot of positions I have questions with” including “being soft on the border, issues relative to tuition for children of illegal aliens.”

But, AR House Bill 1525 was sponsored by Huckabee and that would be considered pretty far left of what Texas passed.

Mr. Cain is going to have to explain that change of heart and not sound like he jumped on the "perry is soft on immigration" bandwagon because he saw the issue hurt him.

How will you, as a Cain supporter, justify his support of the Huckster?

Keep in mind that I'm not against a Cain Presidency either, I have reservations about another "learn on the job President" but I believe Cain can actually do it.

[South40]

Tell you what South, I will concede that "path to citizenship" is a bad term and even misleading

Oh it's more than that; given that ILLEGAL aliens cannot legally apply for citizenship it is entirely untrue.

But I am curious, Herman Cain supported Mike Huckabee in 2008

Really? Got a link for that?

Speaking of endorsements, Perry was the only Republican governor to endorse pro-abortion, pro-gay, pro-ILLEGAL alien, anti-gun liberal cross-dressing freak Rudy Giuliani in 2008. How can you support a man who ignored Huckabee, ignored Duncan Hunter, ignored Tom Tancredo, ignored Fred Thompson and chose instead to endorse someone the likes of Rudy calling him, "The most Reagan-like candidate in the race"?

According to Rick Perry, this was the 'most Reagan-like candidate in the 2008 race'.

[txroadkill]

Really? Got a link for that?

Letter C: $2,300

According to Rick Perry, this was the 'most Reagan-like candidate in the 2008 race'.

Can't defend that, I will actually be at a fund raiser in a couple of weeks and I promise you if given the opportunity I will ask him about it and he really better have a damn good answer.

[South40]

Thanks for the link. I need to pay better attention while I post in FR. I missed the part about donating money and thought you were saying he endorsed Huckabee. My apologies. Giving money isn't the same as an endorsement. I would rather he hadn't but I know it is sometimes necessary. There was a discussion on this regarding Donald Trump having given money to nearly every crooked liberal congress-critter from NY including Weiner, Rangel and Schumer. I won't defend it because I am very selective when it comes to my campaign contributions. That's a question I would ask him should I ever get to meet him.

btw tx, I want to thank you for the respect you have shown me in our discussion. This isn't an attempt to put down Perry supporters it's just a fact; it's not often I am shown the respect you have shown me here and I do appreciate it. We can disagree and have. But there is no need to call each other names as so very often happens, both you and I have proved that. And if you are ever given the opportunity to ask Perry about his endorsement of Giuliani please be sure to share his answer with me. :-)

[Grey Eagle]

These students are required to apply for citizenship as a condition for instate tuition.

[Grey Eagle]

You are missing the point. Immigration is a federal responsibility. Perry has done all that he can do as a governor. He recently sent a bill to Obama for reimbursement of the care and costs given to illegals because of failure of Obama to do his job. Bet TX doesn’t receive any money.

[South40]

These students are required to apply for citizenship as a condition for instate tuition.

Yet another Perry supporter who is clueless to what he is defending.

You are wrong. ILLEGAL aliens cannot apply for citizenship, not in Texas and not in any of the other 49 states. see post#25

Additionally, the Texas statute that provides taxpayer subsidized tuition for ILLEGAL invaders says absolutely nothing about citizenship.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Residency and Texas Senate Bill 1528

ELIGIBILITY

Senate Bill 1528 is a repeal of the previous Texas law, House Bill 1403. This new version of the law will be effective from September 1, 2006. Eligibility for admission under this law will begin with students applying for the Fall 2006 semester.

QUALIFICATIONS

1.Must have graduated from a Texas high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma (e.g. GED) in the state of Texas; and

2. Must have resided in the state of Texas for the three years immediately preceding graduation from high school or the receipt of the GED certificate; and

3. Must not have established a residence outside the state of Texas during the 12 months prior to enrollment at Austin Community College; and

4. Must provide a notarized letter stating that they will file an application to become a permanent resident of the U.S. at the earliest opportunity they will be eligible to do so.

http://www.austincc.edu/support/international/sb1528.php

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I said before, a 'permanent resident' is an LPR, a 'lawful permanent resident'. ILLEGAL aliens are not 'lawful permanent residents' and therefore cannot apply for US citizenship.

[txroadkill]

You know what I hate about Perry? I hate that I can defend his record better than he can and that bugs me worse than the Trans-Texas Corridor. But what are the options? Romney? please. Bachman, she is either an idiot or has surrounded herself with idiots and either way she's done for me. Santorum, just don't like him, and Newt.. I don't think he can win plus he jumped on the global warming train. Paul, I don't think even Paul wants Paul to win and that left Cain. I was excited about Cain. But he is dead to me right now after he proved he was just another politician when what I loved most is that he wasn't. He blew it over the deer lease with Perry, Cain knows what a deer lease is and to me he got high off his victory in Florida and tried to go for the jugular by using the race card against Perry. If he would have just admitted that and apologized or said he regrets speaking before he understood the charge and the context there would be a Cain sign in my front yard right now. The old "Bush/Kerry who would you rather have a beer with", Cain is the guy I wanted to invite over for Sunday dinner and go to ball games with. But now I don't trust him.  

Personally, I think Palin could have won. I didn't support her because she wasn't running, but had she announce 2 months ago I think it would have been hers, sad.

But hey, I'm not here to fight with people, I know that we all take different roads but we all are heading to the same destination. I've seen your post for a couple of years and know your heart through other post, and I don't think I'm going to get anywhere by insulting you and don't believe you are deserving of a bunch of people calling you names just because you support someone different than I do.

Ultimately, I think no matter how this pans out we are going to win. The TEA Party isn't new, the last time it was here it as called the Goldwater movement. Ultimately that gave us Reagan so my hope is there is another Reagan getting ready for their "Rendezvous with Destiny" getting ready to come out of all this and that excites the hell out of me.

[South40]

Thank you for your assessment of my posts. I try to be respectful to everyone but admittedly am easily drawn into the mud. I shouldn’t do that I know, but I still sometimes do. Let’s just say that I am working on it.

I don‘t care for the n*****rock debacle either. But I’m not as bothered by it as I am by the pro-ILLEGAL alien position of Perry. And I also think that if Cain wants the support of blacks he needs to appeal to them – he needs to give them reason to, for perhaps the first time in their lives vote Republican. He needs to not be seen as an Uncle Tom who is a puppet for the right. So saying that word was ‘insensitive’ was really not a deal killer -- not for me, anyway.

I live about 10 miles from the Mexican border. And living as close to the border as I do and given how it has adversely affected my business and my livelihood, ILLEGAL immigration is a big issue for me.

I live in rural East San Diego County. It’s a great place to live but it does have its drawbacks. Almost once week I go out to find my water hose running having been left on by ILLEGALs filling their water jugs. They pick fruit from my trees and steal the eggs from my chicken coop. Hell, they've even stolen the chickens. They have broken into and slept in my vehicles, my garage, my workshop, my storage shed and my barn. And they've tried hot wiring my vehicles. A time was when they would run when spotted but that time is no more. They have grown bolder and more dangerous. They tried car-jacking my neighbor’s truck; fortunately for her she was armed. I hate leaving the home empty when I travel or worse, leaving my wife here alone. So I hire someone to house sit or we have someone stay with the Mrs. when I am gone.

I am a contractor in San Diego County. I’ve been here over 30 years. I’ve seen 2nd and 3rd generation tradesmen lose their livelihoods to the ILLEGAL swarms who have invaded our country. My allegiance lies with the Americans and I do not support the ‘rights’ of ILLEGAL aliens in any way. So when I see a Texas governor do exactly what the extreme left has done here in California I find that completely unforgivable. But I think you understand that.

My congressman is Duncan Hunter. He is a staunch conservative who knows and understands the needs of people like me. What I don't have but desperately need is a president who will take real steps to secure our southern border. And that man I know is not pro-ILLEGAL alien Texas governor, Rick Perry.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend Tx. I attended a car show today and am looking forward to some beer and bratwurst at Octoberfest tonight.

Cheers.