In Texas the Voters Will Take Charge on Immigration

In Texas, politicians lack the moral will to address illegal immigration. Despite a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate, no significant legislation addressing illegal immigration has been passed. Yet in a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll last year, 69 percent of voters in Texas said that the “sanctuary city” policy — in which local law enforcement turns a blind eye to immigration status — is unacceptable and that federal law should be enforced.

Good. I hope an initiative makes it on the Nov ballot
From Article: In Houston, StopTheMagnet.com is working on two proposals that could be on the ballot in November: first, an E-Verify mandate for contractors and subcontractors receiving city contracts and second, a policy allowing Houston police officers to check the immigration status of anyone stopped or arrested who lacks valid identification.

From their website:
We Need 20,000 Signatures. Have You Signed?

Two proposed ballot measures need signatures that will challenge the status quo on illegal immigration in Houston:
Sanctuary Cities: Public Safety policy designed to allow Houston Police Officers more discretion in identifying and reporting those who fail a valid ID check on a probable cause encounter.
E-Verify: Contractors and subcontractors benefitting from taxpayer funds on a City of Houston contract would be required to use E-Verify to authorize the legal working status of their employees.

Remember H.E.B. activism.

By Karen Brooks----AUSTIN, Texas, June 29 2011 (Reuters) - ---Powerful business interests helped to scuttle proposed immigration restrictions ..."sanctuary cities" bill in Texas on Wednesday....grocery chain magnate Charles E. Butt hired one of Austin's most powerful lobbyists to oppose the legislation.....Butt, who owns the H-E-B grocery store chain, donated close to $1 million to political candidates on both sides of the aisle last year......

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/30/immigration-texas-idUSN1E75S29320110630

Business lobby helps scuttle immigration curbs in Texas * Business interests and law enforcement opposed bill * Texas legislation less restrictive than Arizona's

By Karen Brooks AUSTIN, Texas, June 29 (Reuters) - Powerful business interests helped to scuttle proposed immigration restrictions in Texas on Wednesday, further evidence that Republicans in some states are facing resistance among their own supporters to an immigration clampdown.

The "sanctuary cities" bill would have barred cities from stopping police departments from asking about immigration status of people who are detained or arrested. It died when the Texas legislature adjourned without passing it.

Since Arizona enacted sweeping restrictions on immigration last year and blamed the federal government for failing to pass national reforms, civil rights activists have feared that the crackdown would spread across the country. Many watched Texas closely because it is the nation's second most populous state, shares a long border with Mexico, has a rapidly growing Hispanic population, and like Arizona, Republicans control its legislature and governorship.

The sanctuary cities bill was far less restrictive than the measure passed in Arizona, and it was championed by Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry, who is considering running for president. Political analysts expected it to sail through the Republican-dominated legislature. While Republican party infighting and rivalry between the two chambers of the legislature were factors in its demise, shocked conservatives and Tea Party supporters blamed "Country Club" Republicans with close ties to business.

"I don't, for one minute, blame the Democrats for this one," an angry Mike Openshaw, Texas Tea Party activist, told Reuters on Wednesday.

BUSINESS CONCERNS Two powerful Texas businessmen joined the lobbying against the bill, legislative sources told Reuters. Houston homebuilder Bob Perry and grocery chain magnate Charles E. Butt hired one of Austin's most powerful lobbyists to oppose the legislation.\

Bob Perry has long been known as the top Republican donor in Texas. Last year alone, he gave some $7 million to political candidates, mainly Republicans, according to the Texas Ethics Commission. Some $2.5 million of that went to Governor Rick Perry. Bob Perry is not related to the governor.

Butt, who owns the H-E-B grocery store chain, donated close to $1 million to political candidates on both sides of the aisle last year, according to the commission. "They had real reservations about it," Bill Miller, the lobbyist hired by the influential businessmen, told Reuters. "They wanted some changes made, and we expressed the reservations they had about it to members, which kind of slowed it down,"

Miller would not say what those concerns were, and calls to homebuilder Perry for comment were not returned late Wednesday. But lawmakers said business interests worried that the law would allow police to harass their workers. The construction and retail industries employ thousands of immigrants in Texas and across the nation.

Another factor in the bill's demise may have been opposition from Texas law enforcement groups. (Editing by Greg McCune and Jackie Frank)

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