Archive for April, 2010

VIDEO: Debbie Riddle Speaks at the Tax Day Tea Party – Sam Houston Race Park – April 15th, 2010

// April 27th, 2010 // 7 Comments » // Latest News, video

April 15th, 2010 – State Representative Debbie Riddle speaks to 11,000+ people at the Tax Day Tea Party at the Sam Houston Race Park.

For more information about participating in Tea Party events, visit the North Houston Tea Party Patriots, the Houston Tea Party Society, Kingwood Tea Party , or any other area Tea Party group website.

Texas Trespass Bill To Make Illegal’s Presence State Crime

// April 27th, 2010 // 104 Comments » // Latest News

HOUSTON – State Representative Debbie Riddle (R – District 150) will again file a bill that allows state and local law enforcement officers to arrest those who are in the country illegally.

Last session, Riddle filed House Bill 49, which would have created a new criminal violation: Criminal Trespass by Illegal Aliens. She says she will introduce the same measure during the pre-filing period in November that precedes the new Texas legislative session in January.

“Despite all the national controversy, this is a common sense bill, pure and simple,” Riddle said. “It does nothing but allow law enforcement to do their job: arrest those who are breaking the law.”

Unlike a similar act passed recently in Arizona, Riddle’s bill requires law enforcement to confirm the immigration status of a suspect with US Customs and Immigration Enforcement before making an arrest and does not require the suspect to produce identification. Under the language of HB 49, an officer would have to have reasonable suspicion that the person was present in the country illegally before making the inquiry.

Riddle said she believes the legislature will pass the bill in the upcoming session.

“Nothing less than our national security is at stake when it comes to illegal immigration,” Riddle said. “With the violence escalating along the border, the rest of the state and country has suddenly awakened to a reality that my district has known all along: the safety and security of our citizens is in jeopardy and will continue to be in jeopardy until we secure our border.”

CLICK HERE to view a copy of HB49 from the 81st Legislative Session

Representative Debbie Riddle To Speak At Local Tea Party On Tax Day

// April 15th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Latest News, video

While they haven’t dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxes – yet – the Tea Party Patriots have become a political force in just 14 months.

On Feb. 19, 2009, CNBC Business News Editor Rick Santelli ranted from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, suggesting the formation of a Chicago Tea Party to rally against the Homeowner’s Affordability and Stability Plan.

Little did the reporter know he would start a movement that was instrumental in postponing the health care reform bill an entire year and could have a serious impact on the elections in November, said Suzanne Guggenheim, president of the North Houston Tea Party Patriots.

Members of the group will rally from 6-8 p.m. tonight at Houston’s Sam Houston Race Park, located at 7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway West in Houston. The rally will not only be a Tax Day protest, but also will celebrate the organization’s first year, Guggenheim said.

Speakers at the rally include state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Houston, and former state Rep. Rick Green.

Guggenheim said she hopes to see at least 10,000 people at the event. That’s how many showed up at the group’s last event at the race park, in November. Members of the Greater Houston Tea Party Patriots, Kingwood Tea Party Society, Tomball Tea Party Society and other organizations will be in attendance.

The group’s theme this year is “Take Back America Now,” as members will educate voters about conservative values and attempt to bring those values back to the American people, Guggenheim said. It also refers this year, she said, to the possibility of the Republican Party taking back the congressional majority.

“(The health care bill) has really raised awareness, and people have said, ‘We do not want this,” Guggenheim said. “We do think we will take our country back this year.”

Matt Stephens can be reached at mstephens@hcnonline.com. Read the full article at hcnonline.com.