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Texas new Rep Majority brings out 14 bill against illegal immigration day 1

THE 82ND LEGISLATURE
LAWMAKER CAMPS OUT FOR 2 BILLS
HOT-BUTTON ISSUES: Riddle gets priority status for voter ID, immigration in next session
By GARY SCHARRER
AUSTIN BUREAU
Nov. 9, 2010, 11:20AM

THE BILLS

To read the bills filed Monday, click on the following links:

• SB 124:

• http: //www.capitol.state.tx.us/Search/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc%3a%2f%2fTLO%2fTLO.dbo.vwCurrBillDocs%2f82%2fR%2fS%2fB%2f00124%2f1%2fB%40TloCurrBillDocs&QueryText=SB+124&HighlightType=1

• SB 126: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Searc...ighlightType=1

• HB 16:

• http: //www.capitol.state.tx.us/Search/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc%3a%2f%2fTLO%2fTLO.dbo.vwCurrBillDocs%2f82%2fR%2fH%2fB%2f00016%2f1%2fB%40TloCurrBillDocs&QueryText=HB+16&HighlightType=1

• HB 17:

• http: //www.capitol.state.tx.us/Search/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc%3a%2f%2fTLO%2fTLO.dbo.vwCurrBillDocs%2f82%2fR%2fH%2fB%2f00017%2f1%2fB%40TloCurrBillDocs&QueryText=HB+17&HighlightType=1

AUSTIN — State Rep. Debbie Riddle camped out and endured "creepy" noises inside the cold, empty Capitol to be first in line Monday morning to file legislation targeting illegal immigration and ballot security.

The Tomball Republican said she remained outside the House chamber for two days because of the importance of getting priority bill numbers assigned to the two hot-button issues.

House Bill 16 would require voters to present photo identification or two forms of non-photo identification before they are allowed to cast ballots.

House Bill 17 is similar to Arizona's controversial immigration law. It would allow law enforcement officers to charge an immigrant who lacks proper documentation and already is detained on another charge with criminal trespass - a Class B misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $2,000 and maximum jail time of six months.

Both issues are part of the Republican Party of Texas platform but have failed to pass in recent legislative sessions.

However, with election results transforming what had been a narrow, 76-74 Republican advantage in the state House to a whopping 99-51 margin, Riddle expects favorable treatment for both bills.

"We better. Otherwise, the citizens of Texas are going to be pretty outraged - and you ain't seen nothing yet," Riddle said

Democratic leaders said Riddle's immigration bill would result in the same litigation that has tied up the Arizona law and drained millions of dollars from the state's coffers.

Riddle got the lowest bill numbers available after House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, as is custom, reserved the first 15 bill numbers for priority legislation, including the budget bill.

Low bill numbers do not ensure passage, but they are easy to remember and usually get early committee hearings, she said.

Using traffic congestion as an analogy, Riddle said she did not want to wait for rush hour.

"I just got on the road really, really early and got those low bill numbers," she said.

Ballot security is important, she said, because "it is fundamentally wrong" when the vote of an eligible voter gets canceled by someone voting fraudulently.
Patrick files own version

Voter ID legislation has failed in consecutive sessions. Senate Republicans changed rules two years ago to ensure passage, but House Democrats used parliamentary rules to defeat it. Democrats contend the measure aims only to make voting more difficult for seniors and lower-income Texans without driver's licenses.

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, also filed Senate Bill 126, which would require law enforcement to check the legal documentation of lawfully stopped individuals if they have reasonable suspicion. A person who is not in Texas legally could be arrested and turned over to federal immigration officials.

He also has filed Senate Bill 124, which would prohibit cities from adopting sanctuary policies for people in the country illegally.

"Immigration is the number one concern of my constituents and most voters across the state," Patrick said.

Most Texans are more worried about their jobs and supporting families, countered House Democratic Caucus Chair Jessica Farrar, D-Houston. Riddle's priorities will not help small business owners, she said.

"It's terrible to waste an opportunity of a low bill number on something like that," Farrar said.

The voter identification issue could be resolved simply by including photographs on voter registration cards, she added.
'More of the same'

House Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said Riddle would have better served her passion had she pitched a tent outside the congressional office of U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, who is one of the GOP's key figures on immigration issues.

"This is more of the same, and there's no difference between Arizona and Texas in terms of these ideas, and the constitutional pitfalls that she raises with them," he said. "Texans don't want to be responsible for footing that bill a second time."

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I think this shows were Texas is going to save money on the budget these bills were unpassable for years now that there is a huge majority all will pass without any chance of the minority stopping them. The biggest one is having to have a ID to vote that will stop any illegal from voting in any election. Second heaviest bill will get rid of Sanctuary cities and if they fail to the state will hold back that cities funding.