Texas On Immigration: "Absolute Frustration"
11/17/2006
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A slew of bills are in preparation this week by Texas lawmakers for the 2007 session — and it's not looking good for illegal immigrants. Here's the rundown according to the New York Times:

1. State Representative Burt R. Solomons, (R) from Carrollton, outside Dallas, introduced a bill to deny state licenses to people without proof of legal residence.

2. Mr. Solomons also filed a resolution to put the House on record, as he put it, as “demanding the federal government do what they’re supposed to” to control the border with Mexico and to authorize the state attorney general to sue Washington to recoup the state’s costs.

3. Representative Leo Berman, (R) from Tyler, would deny state benefits, including welfare payments, food stamps, disability payments, public housing and unemployment assistance to the children of illegal immigrants — even if they are American citizens.

4. Mr. Berman also wants to tax 8 percent out of electronic money transfers from immigrant workers in Texas to people in Mexico and Central and SouthAmerica. Federal law may not permit it.

5. Dianne White Delisi, (R) from Temple, introduced a bill to require state agencies to report the cost of services like hospital care provided to illegal immigrants.

And while I wonder what has taken Texas so long to wake up and smell the tamales, I laud the effort now being put forth. “Want to know what it’s all about?” asked Rep. Solomons. “Absolute frustration.” (Texas Lawmakers Put New Focus on Illegal Immigration by Ralph Blumenthal, New York Times, November 16, 2006)

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