Houston, TX Petition to end Sanctuary City Policy and Use E-Verify - 20,000 Signatures Needed

A couple of weeks ago I received an email about a petition drive in Houston, Texas. The petitions are aimed at ending the Sanctuary City policy in Houston and also require E-Verify to be used in Houston.

There petitions require 20,000 signatures each by about late summer 2012 in order to get on the ballot. If they make it onto the ballot and the people of Houston vote in favor of them, they will become a part of Houston's City Ordinances and Regulations, regardless of whether or not the City Council approves of them or not.

Houston has especially been hit hard by illegal immigrant crimes with recent murders of Houston Police Officers by illegals. These illegals who killed police officers would likely have been deported before they could kill if Houston Police Officers were allowed to check the citizenship status of people who they arrest. I have to show my ID when I get pulled over, I do not see why it would be discriminatory to check the citizen status of people who get arrested or pulled over for an infraction not related to their race or ethnicity.

Below is the information I received about this Petition Drive:

Stop the Magnet is a petition drive effort seeking 20,000 City of Houston registered voters to help deter the detrimental effects of illegal immigration in our community.

The “magnets” of jobs and operating under the radar in our city encourages criminal behavior and the ability to set down roots in our community.

We are offering two ballot proposals to help keep American citizens in the workforce and a proactive policy for our Houston Police officers to check the identities more fully where no valid identification is presented in a probable cause encounter.

We believe it is an outrage that our heroic fighting forces are called out to fight for freedom around the world while at home in the United States our borders remain wide open and the costs are borne by hard-working

State Senator Says TSA Anti Groping Bill is Dead. It Will Not Pass Due To Speaker Straus's Bad Timing

State Senator Says TSA Anti Groping Bill is Dead. It Will Not Pass Due to Speaker Straus's Bad Timing

As I predicted, the State Affairs Committee bailed out again and cancelled their meeting Monday morning. This left the TSA and Sanctuary Cities Legislation looking pretty dead.

Then the unexpected happened on Monday when Speaker Joe Straus, who just recently mocked the Anti Groping Bill by calling it a publicity stunt, did a shocking 180% turn around and revived the TSA bill by ending his block and letting it some to the House Floor for a second reading.

Everyone Start Celebrating right?

To be honest, I actually got very excited at first and was thankful that Joe Straus did the right thing.

But then I got this personal email from a State Senator explaining to me that the TSA Bill will most likely not get passed and was Dead on Arrival.


Here is the email message I got from this State Senator:

The TSA Anti-Groping Bill will most likely not get passed by the end of the session tomorrow. It all comes down to timing. Timing is a matter of Constitutional requirements. One is a House Bill the other a Senate Bill. House still has to vote out on third reading tomorrow.   Even though they are similar, one of them must go back to the other's committee, then back to floor to be voted on separate days after posting for 24 hours in between. Clock will not permit without suspension of rules which Dem's will not give. Sanctuary city Senate bill has been sitting in House for thirteen days with no action.

So all of this for nothing!?  It was all just a show?

It seems like the real Publicity Stunt is Speaker Joe Straus waiting till the last minute to bring the bill to the house floor for a vote and doing so with the knowledge that it does not stand a chance to pass because it was brought to the floor too late. I suppose it makes sense though. The Speaker gets a win win. He kills the bill that he didn't like by waiting to bring it to the floor, and at the same time he gets to say that he actually tried to get the bill passed.

This State Senator also makes another very interesting point. The Senate PASSED the Sanctuary Cities Bill and it sat in the House State Affairs Committee for13 days with no action! The Sanctuary Cities Bill was an emergency item this session and is actually part of the Republican Party platform and yet a Republican controlled House could not get it passed.

The State Affairs Committee was in charge of the TSA and Sanctuary Cities Legislation. It is headed up by Byron Cook who was part of the Gang of 11 Republicans who joined forces with the Democrats to get Straus elected as Speaker. Straus could have gotten whatever bills he wanted out of that important committee.


The Bottom line is that, at the end of the day, a Republican Dominated House could not get these important Republican Bills passed in this Special Session, and it all comes down to the leadership of Speaker Joe Straus and his elaborate "publicity stunt".

I sure hope I am wrong and I hope that something miraculous will happen so that these bills can get passed. It can only be possible if the rules are suspended and this is not easy to do so is not looking good... I hope they can do it though

Don't get me wrong. Overall this was a good session and the super-majority of Republicans were able to get some good bills passed. But these special session stunts, and even the regular session stunts like some of the strongest conservatives getting hurt in redistricting, took everyone by surprise and they reflect poorly on the Speaker

Texas to Pass TSA Anti Groping “Resolution” not Bill - PLUS Rep. James White Confirms State Rep Standoff Over Sanctuary Cities

See Interview with Texas State Representative James White at end of this Article

Texas State Rep White Says AWOL Members of State Affairs Committee are Holding Up Voting in Special Session Over a Sanctuary Cities Standoff. Plus he says that the Texas Legislature on Monday might only pass an Anti Groping “resolution” instead of a bill. I guess I am not surprised when Rep White told me this because, after all, Speaker Joe Straus will personally not allow an anti groping bill go to the floor for a vote and has even openly mocked the Majority of Texans by calling it a “publicity stunt.”

In my previous article, see here, I reported that there is a standoff in the Texas Legislature. There were over 50 State Representatives missing in action on Friday June 24th and the Special Session had to come to a halt because there was not a Quorum. A State Representative source told me that as long as SB 9 (the Sanctuary Cities Bill) was in play, many State Reps would not show up and there would not be a quorum.

The TSA Anti Groping Bill is being considered as a reason for the standoff. This is just not true. The TSA bill is being used as a distraction to keep from people seeing the real issue which is a standoff over the Sanctuary Cities Bill.

Today I spoke with State Rep James White and he confirmed that the standoff is over the Sanctuary Cities Bill and the talk about the standoff being over the TSA bill is just a distraction from the Sanctuary Cities battle because the majority of the House supports the TSA legislation. He went on to explain that the standoff is even simpler than I originally thought. The Standoff, and the reason why the Special Session has come to a halt, is originating out of the State Affairs Committee.

Before the House Session began on Friday, there was to be a State Affairs Committee meeting earlier Friday morning. Several members of the State Affairs Committee did not show up on Friday morning and that prevented that State Affairs Committee Meeting from having a quorum. When the State Affairs Committee did not have a quorum the 8:45 AM committee meeting was cancelled. This carried over into the 10AM House session with the Speaker of the House having to adjourn on Friday because there was not a quorum. But it all started earlier that morning in the State Affairs Committee. If the members of the State Affairs Committee showed up to do their job by getting these bills out of the State Affairs Committee, then the rest of the Texas State Reps would have been there too.

So what was on the agenda for Friday that caused members of the State Affairs Committee to not show up and prevent a Quorum? The State Affairs Committee was to consider pending business (the Sanctuary Cities Bill) on Friday Morning.

So that is it folks. The Standoff is most certainly over the Sanctuary Cities Bill and is has been narrowed down to originating out of the State Affairs Committee

So what happens next? Well, Monday the State Affairs Committee has scheduled a meeting to discuss the TSA Anti Groping legislation. Don’t get too excited though, the Speaker of the House Joe Straus has personally killed that bill and mocked the majority of Texans by calling the anti groping bill a “publicity stunt”, so what will be proposed in the Monday meeting will not be an anti groping bill and instead will only be an anti groping “resolution”. Yep, if this anti groping resolution passes we are gonna really stand up to the TSA by “passing a resolution that will tell the TSA that we are not happy with them”

It is interesting to note that the Monday Meeting does not include taking up their pending business, also known as the Sanctuary cities bill. The picture is starting to get clearer.

But, even though the Sanctuary Cities Bill has not been put on the agenda for Monday, the bill could still be brought up when the State Affairs Committee meets on Monday when they take up the TSA Resolution.

One of two things will happen Monday. The State Affairs Committee members will continue to have a standoff to prevent a quorum and there will not be a State Affairs Committee meeting on Monday, OR the State Affairs Committee members will actually show up and swiftly pass the weak, do nothing TSA Anti Groping Resolution but then adjourn before the Sanctuary Cities bill can be brought back up.

Even if the Sanctuary Cities Bill does not make it out of Committee, it is still sure to get interesting because there is talk that a State Rep will add the Sanctuary Cities Legislation onto SB1 as an amendment with no debate and just an up or down vote.


East Texas State Rep James White was elected as a conservative, no nonsense, get things done kind of guy. After I heard about the standoff I knew I could call him and he would give me a straight forward opinion of what is going on without trying to just make a biased attack against any other State Reps.

Here is my Full Interview with State Representative James White:

David Bellow: What important legislation do we still have on the table?

James White: SB 1 is the big fiscal matters bill that will help ensure that our budget is certified and that schools are funded. SB 9 Sanctuary Cities bill. Many East Texas are very concerned with safety in their communities and on the border. TSA anti groping bill. People elected last election as a statement that they want us to push back against excessive federal abuse and the TSA groping is certainly an abuse of federal power and East Texans want us to stand up against it. SB 7 is the healthcare fiscal bill that is important because it has the healthcare compact provision in it to allow Texas to opt out of Obamacare and form our own health care system that works for Texas. Basically the bills we have left are the ones that push back against big Federal Government.

David Bellow: When will the TSA Bill and the Sanctuary Cities bill get to the house floor for an up or down vote?

James White: The TSA bill made it out of committee and will most certainly get passed if brought to the floor for an up or down vote. You have to understand that there is not really any opposition to the TSA bill from the members of the Texas House of Representatives because it passed nearly unanimously this year out of the house, it is very popular with constituents, and over 100 state reps are sponsors of the bill.

The Sanctuary cities bill is held up in the State Affairs Committee. The committee heard testimony on the bill earlier in the week and was supposed to finish taking up the Sanctuary Cities Bill on Friday June 24th but they didn’t.

David Bellow: Why didn’t they take up the bill on Friday?

James White: They did not take up the bill on Friday because the State Affairs Committee did not have a quorum and cancelled the meeting.

David Bellow: Do you believe that there are members of the State Affairs Committee who purposely did not show up because they do not want to sanctuary cities bill to get passed?

James White: Yes I do. This Sanctuary Cities Bill is what is causing the most turmoil behind the scenes in the House.

David Bellow: So what is coming up next?

James White: Monday the State Affairs Committee will hear a proposed resolution, HCR 5, against TSA groping. They will not be considering an Anti Groping Law and will only be considering a Resolution. A resolution does not have the backing of the law and is only a statement

If the State Affairs Committee meets on Monday to do this resolution then they have an obligation to also finish up the Sanctuary Cities Bill but I do not think that will happen.

If the State Affairs Committee does not pass the Sanctuary Cities Bill then a possible Sanctuary Cities Amendment could be tagged onto SB 1 and would be an up or down vote with no discussion.

All of this boils down to the members of the State Affairs Committee. They are hand picked by and will follow the directives of the Speaker of the House. This is one of the most important committees and the Speaker could ask them to do something and they will do it. But they are not doing anything, and unless these State Reps have VERY important matters they need to attend to, they have an obligation to be here and finish business.

David Bellow: Is there anything else you would like to add?

James White: I was one of the first signers onto the TSA Anti Groping Bill. I am a former Infantry Officer so I know about security. Some of the things we are doing in airports is just downright wrong and not more effective than other less intrusive measures. This is Texas! How is it possible that we have non elected bureaucrats telling us what we can and cannot do? This non elected bureaucrat thinks he is going to tell 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives what we can and cannot do? We have to stand up against this. When I was sworn in I swore to uphold the US Constitution AND the State Constitution. East Texans are mad and they cannot understand why TEXAS State Reps are backing down and letting out State Constitution be run over by these appointed, non elected officials.

David Bellow: Thank you for taking time to let us know what is going on!

James White: You’re Welcome.

Urgent! Texas State Rep Says Fellow State Reps Have Fled to Prevent a Quorum and Stop Voting in Special Session. Wisconsin All Over Again?

this article posted at www.TexasGOPvote.com

“There is currently a Standoff in the Texas Legislature and I have been told that as long as the Sanctuary City issue is still in the air, these State Reps will not show up and there will very likely not be enough State Reps to have a quorum, just like the Wisconsin standoff”, says my State Representative source.

Over the course of the Texas Legislative Session I keep in touch with several Legislators. Yesterday evening I talked to one State Representative who told me some troubling news.

Just yesterday, June 24th, 2011, there was NO voting allowed in the Special Session because there was not a Quorum. There did not even need to be a roll call because just looking onto the floor of the Texas House of Representatives it was clear that there were not enough people. Well over 50 State Reps were missing. Obviously there will be those who ask to be excused for various reasons like emergencies or other important matters, but that list of excused members only had 15 names on it.

So where was everyone else?

This State Rep informed me that, although no one is saying it publicly, many of these State Reps who did not show up have said they would not show up as long as the Sanctuary City Bill is being considered. I know what you are saying, the Sanctuary City Bill is dead right? Yes, with the help of some Republicans like Byron cook, the bill did not make it out of committee. But a Sanctuary City Amendment is planned to be added to another bill. That will limit debate on the Sanctuary Cities legislation and secure its passage with a simple majority vote. “There is currently a Standoff in the Texas Legislature and I have been told that as long as the Sanctuary City issue is still in the air, these State Reps will not show up and there will most likely not be enough State Reps to have a quorum, just like the Wisconsin standoff”, says my State Rep source.

It looks like we might have Wisconsin all over again! Except now it is happening in Texas. These State Reps are not showing up for work simply because they want to keep the majority of the other State Reps from passing a bill that they do not like. I suppose it is not enough for these State Reps that there has been more than one Houston Cop killed by an illegal Immigrant see here and here. These murders would have never happened if police officers were allowed to check Immigration status of everyone that is stopped for committing crime or a violation because these killers would have been identifies as illegal long before the killings. Don’t misunderstand me, I am for immigration and certainly have many Hispanic friends, like fellow blogger Adryana Boyne. But it has to be done the right way and there is a process that has to be followed and breaking the law is not the way to start off coming to America. Most importantly, we have to keep these criminals from entering into America and killing police officers.

But Wait, Texas has 101 Republicans right? The Democrats don’t even have to show up for there to be a quorum. Yep, you guessed it, there are Republicans who are part of this group of defectors. But State Reps fleeing to prevent a quorum in Texas is not something new. In 2003, years before the Wisconsin standoff, Texas had 51 Democrats flee the State in order to put a stop to any legislation getting passed.

Shame on these Democrats and some Republicans. Whoever you are, get back to work and stop wasting the taxpayer’s money in this special session.

Could this information be wrong? I suppose this State Rep could be misinformed. But this State Rep source would not tell me something if he did not believe it to be true so I know that this State Rep and his colleagues believe it to be true, and it seems as though it is true since yesterday in special session there were over 50 State Reps mysteriously not there. That does not happen very often unless there is a reason and this State Rep believes that the reason is a Sanctuary Cities standoff. I hope that we keep the Sanctuary Cities Amendment alive and I hope that our State Reps decide to show up on Monday and do the job they were elected to do… go ahead, prove us wrong and show up on Monday…. It could get very interesting though if they decide to keep the standoff alive or if the other side caves in and drops the Sanctuary Cities Amendment.