Dear Texas Friends,
Immediate calls are needed to members of the Texas House Calendars Committee, which controls the fate of a pro-illegal immigration bill (SB 1398) opposed by NumbersUSA and the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas (IRCOT). Your calls are having an effect because action has been put off thus far. Also, calls are needed to Democratic Senators in support of an anti-sanctuary city bill (SB 358).
Please call and email today! Separate talking points are included below for the two bills.
Call House Calendar Committee members to ask them to vote NO on SB 1398, which would prevent cities like Farmers Branch from imposing restrictions on those who rent to illegal aliens.
House Calendar Committee
Chairman Brian McCall (512) 463-0594
Burt Solomons (512) 463-0478
Charlie Geren (512) 463-0610
Norma Chavez (512) 463-0622
Garnett Coleman (512) 463-0524
Byron Cook (512) 463-0730
Brandon Creighton (512) 463-0726
Jim Keffer (512) 463-0656
Lois Kolkhorst (512) 463-0600
Edmund Kuempel (512) 463-0602
Eddie Lucio (512) 463-0606
Jim McReynolds (512) 463-0490
Alan Ritter (512) 463-0706
Talking Points for Reps. on SB 1398 – Oppose Pro-Illegal Immigration Bill
· Please vote no on SB 1398. Although the bill does not mention illegal immigration, it is aimed at cities like Farmers Branch to stop their ability to deal with illegal immigration through the granting of licenses for the occupancy of single and multifamily dwellings. Cities have attempted to enact ordinances that require only legal residents to occupy housing in their communities.
· The City of Farmers Branch has spent well over $1 million to defend its license ordinance. If passed into law, SB 1398 would interfere with ongoing legal proceedings concerning the validity of the ordinance requiring a rental license to occupy a single or multifamily unit in the city. It would strip a city’s local control to issue licenses and cost tax payers a great deal of money in the process.
· The bill is an end-around of the legal system and violates the rights of Texas cities to regulate local affairs. Stopping the Farmers Branch efforts with this legislation will also eliminate the possibility of other communities benefiting from the outcome of the court concerning illegal immigration. In effect, the legislation would derail efforts by many communities to help the federal government address the illegal immigration problem.
Also, please contact Speaker Joe Straus and your Representative and ask them to work to defeat SB 1398. If you need to look up the name of your Representative, please use this link - http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php
Call Democratic Senators to Secure Last Needed Vote for Anti-Sanctuary City Bill
All Republican Senators have agreed to vote forSB 358, which would prohibit local government "sanctuary city" policies that protect illegal aliens. Please call and email all Democratic Senators asking them to vote YES on SB 358 when it reaches the floor. Talking points are included below.
The web page for each Senator includes an email form. To access those pages, click on the Senator’s name below or on the following Senate web page: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/Members.htm
Democratic Senators to Contact
Davis, Wendy (512) 463-0110
Ellis, Rodney (512) 463-0113
Gallegos, Mario, Jr. (512) 463-0106
Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy" (512) 463-0120
Lucio, Eddie, Jr. (512) 463-0127
Shapleigh, Eliot (512) 463-0129
Uresti, Carlos (512) 463-0119
Van de Putte, Leticia (512) 463-0126
Watson, Kirk (512) 463-0114
West, Royce (512) 463-0123
Whitmire, John (512) 463-0115
Zaffirini, Judith (512) 463-0121
Talking Points for Dem. Senators – Support Anti-Sanctuary City Bill
· Please vote YES on SB 358 and end the dangerous sanctuary city policies in Texas. Sanctuary city policies enable violent criminal illegal aliens to remain within our communities without fear of being detected or deported. Too many Texans (including Texas law enforcement officers) have been killed or seriously injured because of the sanctuary given to illegal aliens by city officials.
· Sanctuary policies are illegal under Federal law, but a number of local governments in Texas still maintain policies that forbid police from asking about a person's immigration status or informing Federal immigration authorities about the presence of illegal aliens. The resulting safe havens make it easier for illegal aliens, including criminal aliens, to live undetected in the United States. It is dangerous, expensive and counterproductive to keep recycling illegal aliens through our justice system.
· Texas has sanctuary policies that do not just allow, but actually encourage illegal alien presence and activity. When public assistance agencies are prevented from inquiring about an applicant's immigration status, benefits are distributed to ineligible illegal aliens. These outrageous sanctuary policies are displacing benefits for needy Americans. Taxpayers should no longer have to foot the bill for illegal-alien public benefits.
· 90% of the U.S. based MS-13 gang members are foreign-born illegal aliens. (per "Line in the Sand: Confronting the Threat on the SW Border," Majority Staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Investigations; 2006 U.S. Congressional Texas Hearings)
Also, please contact Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Gov. Rick Perry and ask them to work to enact SB 358.
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
Phone: (512) 463-0001
E-mail form: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php
Phone: (512) 463-0001
E-mail form: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/
Governor Rick Perry
Phone: 1-800-843-5789 OR (512) 463-2000
Thank you for your assistance!
Van Esser
Chief, Membership Services
Numbers USA
1601 N. Kent Street
Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209
