Bob.
We (Texans) have a 1300 mile INTERNATIONAL border with Mexico. It is the FEDs job (money and muscle) to protect it. Texans are spending about $100 million a year from our budget on border security. Perry has asked for drones, he's gone to Israel to see how they protect the Gaza Strip. He has asked for 3000 troops on the border. He has set up an elite Texas Ranger force. What do you suggest he do?
During the last legislative session Gov. Perry called them back into special session to address "sanctuary cities" and the secure cities bill where police could check immigration status. The TX Senate passed a take it or leave it bill and adjourned. The House took it up pissed at the Senate for doing that, and once all the political "eye-balling" began on how their votes would look in the upcoming election and the specter of political musical chairs started to dawn on them, the leadership in the house dropped it.
Perry has made his displeasure clear.
Lawmakers Call it Quits, Leave Unfinished Business
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But all was not lost.
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July 4, 2011 [Texas] Rule requiring drivers to prove citizenship now law As the House early last month debated a must-pass finance bill, one member slipped in language that puts into law a controversial Texas Department of Public Safety policy requiring driver's license applicants to show they're in the country legally.
The amendment, added by Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, to the education funding bill legislators needed to balance the state budget had originally been included in Senate Bill 9, the so-called "sanctuary cities" bill that failed in the special session. It also had appeared in an omnibus homeland security bill by Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, that died in the regular session.
The new law approved last Tuesday makes some tweaks to a 2008 DPS policy that prevents illegal immigrants from getting a driver's license and created a special license for temporary visitors. The rules require Texans applying for or renewing their license to show they are citizens or are in the country legally.
By putting it into law the state potentially undermines an ongoing lawsuit that argues DPS doesn't have authority to check legal status."....
“During the last legislative session Gov. Perry called them back into special session to address “sanctuary cities” and the secure cities bill...”
Cinci, baby,
You’re entitled to your opinions, but not your facts, and you know better. Perry ADDED the above (or at least the Sanctuary City part, not sure of the other) only AFTER the special session was forced on him because that babe from Dallas holding up school funding. There was ZERO talk of a special session on SC prior - Perry seemed content to just let it die in the regular session, just as it somehow ‘magically’ died in the special session that he was forced into.
But now that school funding is taken care of, if Perry REALLY wants Sanctuary Cities he can call another session, just for that - and he’ll probably get it (and if not, he will have really tried). It means a lot to us who live in cities where cops have been killed. But I doubt very much that happens.