GOP State Senator Disrespects Texas History & Culture

The Texas legislature is currently considering a rather stupid bill that would outlaw "sanctuary cities" in the state of Texas -- even though no one can name a single one (if they exist at all). The main thing the bill would do is to turn local and state police into immigration officers, giving them the authority to question those they stop who may not be citizens (Hispanics) and arrest them for violating federal immigration law.

This bill is nothing more than a political bone to be thrown to the brain-dead teabaggers who control the Republican Party in Texas. Anyone who thinks turning local and state police into immigration officials is a reasonable way to deal with the more than 11 million undocumented aliens in this country is not living in the real world. It would not only hurt farmers, ranchers and business people, but it would be physically impossible to actually arrest and deport any significant portion of that population.

But while it is just a false solution to the immigration problem, it could have a seriously negative effect on our communities -- especially in the area of criminal justice. That is why police officials in El Paso, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Ft. Worth, and Austin are opposing the bill. The police in these and other Texas cities have spent decades trying to form a trusting and workable alliance with the undocumented community, and their success in this has paid real benefits -- both in the reporting of criminal behavior and in helping police to catch the culprits and convict them. If these local police must act as immigration officers they will lose the trust and help of the undocumented community, making the state a more dangerous place for all citizens.

But this is already understood by many (except for the teabaggers who think complex problems must have simple answers). What I really wanted to discuss was something that happened as this bill was being considered in a Senate committee. Here is how the Fort Worth Star-telegram described it:

At one point, a man with the Austin Immigrants' Rights Coalition testified in Spanish with someone else translating his comments into English. The man mentioned he came to America in 1988. After about 2 minutes, Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, interrupted him.

"Why aren't you speaking in English?" Harris asked.

The man, clearly flustered, explained that he was more comfortable testifying in Spanish, his first langauge, since it was his first time delivering testimony.

"it's insulting to us," Harris said. "It is very insulting. If he knows English, he needs to be speaking in English."

Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, was quick to add in that, just like witnesses, "Senators are also entitled to speak their personal point of view and may not be speaking for everybody as well."

The man finished his remarks in Spanish.

Frankly, I am shocked at the remarks of the GOP senator. He is obviously ignorant of Texas history and culture. The fact is that Spanish has been spoken in Texas since the mid-1500's, and it was not until nearly 300 years later that English-speakers began to populate the state. To question anyone's right to speak Spanish in Texas is simply ludicrous.

I know that some teabaggers would respond that the Texas War of Independence from Mexico changed that. But this was not a war of an English culture defeating a Hispanic culture. Many of those who died in the Alamo and many of those in Sam Houston's victorious army were Hispanics (and Spanish speakers). It was a war for independence -- not a cultural war. And both as a country and then as a state Texas has always had a significant Hispanic accent -- in culture and language. It is something that real Texans are proud of.

The gentleman testifying in Spanish before the committee did not insult Harris or any of his colleagues. But Sen. Harris did insult all the citizens of Texas (of all races, colors, and languages). And he showed no respect for the history and culture of the state he is supposed to represent. He should be ashamed of himself.

Tx Senate - Incompetent Or Sneaky ?

The Texas Legislature meets only once every two years for a 140-day session. That session ended this last weekend, and once again, it more closely resembled a convention of second-rate clowns than anything else. It reminds us why the people of Texas don't have the stomach or nerve to ask for yearly legislative sessions.

This year the Texas House and Senate adjourned before approving and funding the operations of at least three state agencies -- the Texas Racing Commission, the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Texas has a system that includes "sunset laws". That means that each state agency must be reviewed every few years and reapproved, or it automatically ceases to exist.

Some may disagree, but I think the state could get by for a couple of years without the Racing Commission and the Department of Insurance. All you have to do is look at insurance rates in Texas to know that the latter department did very little for Texas consumers anyway. But do away with TxDOT? That seems a little extreme, especially considering the condition of Texas' overcrowded and crumbling highway infrastructure.

Although they didn't pass the regulation bill re-approving TxDOT, the Texas House did pass a last-minute resolution that would have allowed the agency to operate for another two years. But that wasn't good enough for the Senate. A majority of the senators then worked themselves up into a lather and decided to teach the House a lesson. They adjourned without approving the resolution.

Even Governor "Good Hair" Perry didn't see the logic in that. He said, "If I could tell you I understood what happened last night, I would be an absolute genius. I thought I was watching an episode of 'Lost' for a moment. I have no idea what they were thinking or why they didn't want to pass the resolutions that would have given a safety net for those agencies."

There are two options as to what happened. The Texas Senate is either incredibly incompetent or very sneaky. The first option cannot be ruled out since the huge majority of the senators are Republicans, but I have a suspicion that the truth lies with the second option.

You see, the Republicans spent a large part of the session trying to pass a voter suppression bill (which they called the Voter ID bill). The Republicans know the political winds are currently blowing against them. They have only two choices -- moderate their views and appeal to a broader range of voters or suppress as many votes as possible. These right-wing nuts chose voter suppression.

The voter suppression bill easily passed the Republican-dominated Senate, but was killed in the House (where there are 76 Repubs and 74 Dems). The only hope to revive the bill is to force the governor to call a "special session" of the legislature. That is why the Senate refused to pass the resolution to keep TxDOT alive for another two years. If they had passed it, there would be no reason for a special session to be called.

So don't be surprised when the governor calls for a special session to save TxDOT. And don't be surprised when a voter suppression bill is added to the special session agenda. That's what this whole mess is about.

Come to think of it, maybe they're sneaky AND incompetent.

Texas Senate Approves "Choose Life" Plate

The Texas Legislature just couldn't do it. They couldn't finish a whole legislative session without throwing a bone to the religious right.

On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill by Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) that would create a new license plate that says "Choose Life". The vote was 22-9. The senators who voted for the plate said it was a pro-adoption plate and the funds from the sale of the plate would benefit adoptions.

That's a ridiculous assertion. However they may try to obfuscate the issue, this is political-religious bone thrown to social conservatives who are anti-abortion. I wouldn't have a problem with it if they would also create a "Pro-Choice" plate, but there is little chance of that. This is not about fairness (or adoption). It is about pushing a fundamentalist religious viewpoint.

I think the state can count on having to defend this action in a federal court. I seriously doubt if the Pro-Choice proponents will accept this without a fight.

Congratulations Senator Davis

It looks like congratulations are in order for Senator Wendy Davis. The rookie senator from Fort Worth just got her first piece of legislation passed in the Texas Senate (SB576). Even better, the bill was passed unanimously. It's always nice when you propose a bill that everyone thinks is a good idea. Here's how the bill was described in a press release:

"SB 576 is a bill designed to help make Tax Increment Financing districts (TIFs) a more effective economic development tool. SB 576 would improve the economic viability of TIFs by allowing cities to use TIF funds to make infrastructure improvements outside of the district boundaries, if those improvements directly benefit the district. The bill would also improve historic preservation efforts inside TIFs by allowing cities to grant historic preservation incentives without requiring historic property owners to be "carved out" of the district."

Senator Davis said, "I'm very proud to have passed Senate Bill 576 -- my first bill -- on the Senate floor today, and I think it is fitting that my first piece of legislation was about improving an economic development tool often used back home in Tarrant County. I am eager to continue working on the issues my constituents sent me here to address, and I look forward to passing many more bills on their behalf."

I also congratulate the people of Fort Worth. They have elected a good senator, who is interested in helping Fort Worth and the state of Texas.