Representative Riddle Files “Arizona Style” Legislation, Voter ID Bill
// November 8th, 2010 // Uncategorized
AUSTIN – Six months ago, Representative Debbie Riddle (R – District 150) created a media frenzy when she said she would be introducing legislation similar to a provision in Arizona’s SB 1070 as soon as permitted for the upcoming session.
She made good on that promise earlier today when she filed the states’ first batch of bills, including HB 17, which creates the offense of Criminal Trespass by Illegal Alien and allows for their arrest by state and local police officers.
“My constituents want to see that their representative is just as serious about getting the job done this session as they are,” Riddle said. “They’ve got a real fire in their bellies, and I’m here to show them that I’m ready to match that tenacity.”
Riddle set up some folding chairs and pitched a make-shift campsite outside the floor of the Texas House of Representatives beginning on Saturday afternoon to make sure she was the first in line when the Chief Clerk’s office opened for early filing this morning. She spent both Saturday and Sunday night sleeping on the lobby floor.
“A visitor that walked by told me that I reminded them of the kids that camp out for Duke basketball tickets in Durham, North Carolina,” Riddle said. “It was eye-opening to realize that people think it’s normal to be passionate about something like college basketball, but odd to be passionate about your state’s politics.”
Although the immigration legislation has generated the most buzz this year, Riddle deliberately filed her Voter ID bill before any of her others, making it the very first bill filed for the new session: HB 16. The bill requires one form of photo ID or two forms of non-photo ID in order to vote in Texas.
“Voter ID has got to be one of the top priorities of the legislature this session.” Riddle said. “It passed in the House two session ago and was stalled by politics in the Senate. It passed in the Senate last year and then was stalled by politics in the House. There are no more excuses left this time around.”
Seven other bills rounded out the first day of Riddle’s early filings: HB 18, imposing sanctions for municipalities that allow “sanctuary cities;” HB 19, which seeks to imprison unlicensed drivers who cause serious accidents; HJR 16 and HB 23, which allow counties to set their own appraisal caps; HB 22, requiring all state agencies to determine and report their costs related to illegal aliens; HB 21, requiring school districts to report the number of illegal aliens attending their schools; and HB 20, increasing the penalty for burglary of a motor vehicle to a state jail felony.
27 Responses to “Representative Riddle Files “Arizona Style” Legislation, Voter ID Bill”
- Billy Mills said: I am constantly amazed at the people who refer to ...
- John Carpenter said: Are you serious? The proposed bill does not single...
- Ryan Roye said: Hey Stephanie....'annexed to Mexico.' Really? Ma...
- Immenotu said: No one wants to admit that the illegals are taking...
- Vicky Knight said: It is NOT possible to make all illegal aliens - an...
- Vicky Knight said: HB49 is the BEST thing that could happen to Texas ...
Hi Mrs. Riddle,
I support your “arizona style” legislation.
Actually I think we owe it to all the people who live here *and* those who want to live a clear and effective atmosphere of carefully crafted and *enforced* laws. This crap about passing laws and then not enforcing them is absurd. (I think the state attorney’s office should look into suing the Fed enforcement officials for negligence and non-compliance!)
Anyway, I think much of the resistance you are going to get from this can be addressed with a sort of compassionate agreement. “Yes, the changes I am proposing will cause some problems, but we must go through some period while criminals (and law abiding people) adjust their behavior to this fact: here in Texas we will enforce the laws of our state and nation”.
I believe that even the law abiding immigrants (I saw “law-abiding” excepting any failure to immigrate legally) will benefit from these laws. I think with this law along with a set of guest worker programs (can we do that without help from the Feds?) we can lead the nation by example out of this entire immigration situation.
–
Quentin
Just heard you on KLBJ – Great Job!
Thanks for standing up for Texas and its citizens.
Bill
I will be asking Angie Button to support you
Good going Representative Riddle! I made sure to highlight your filings of these bills in the blogs on the Houston Chronicle today. I’m holding my breath until they do a story on it, so I decided to help them out by letting the bloggers know you’re looking out for Texas! Good luck and God Bless you during this session.
Representative Riddle:
Thank you for finally bringing this fight to Texas. I sincerely hope that your constituents in the House as well as the Senate will have the same integrity and grit that you have shown and do what the people of Texas have begged for: enforce our immigration laws. It will be hard battle but one that is worth fighting for all Texans! Our State has been overrun with an illegal immigrant population for far too long and it’s time we took it back!
I support you too.
Well done Debbie Riddle, Saluting you for the courage that you come forward for the right thing. Now we are happy and confirmed that the people elected the correct person to represent them. congratulations and your work, thoughts and courage are higthly appreciable.
Charly Varughese.
Excellent!
I will be contacting my state representatives and DEMAND they support this legislation.
Thank you for standing up for Texas and the rule of law! I applaud your courage. I will also be contacting the state reps here in the Metroplex demanding they support this legislation.
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Thank you so much. We have needed reform on immigrants for a very long time!!! I will contact my State Rep to make sure this bill is supported!
This legislation does nothing but criminalize people who do not currently have the option to immigrate “legally.” All of you who write about these people breaking the law are missing the point that there is no line to stand in when it comes to immigration. At this point, a regular coming from Mexico fleeing violence or poverty or both, seeking a visa to work here legally, will DIE before they get that visa. That’s what the backlog is like. You are criminalizing them for trying to work their way into a better life, just as all your parents and grandparents were allowed to do. If these people were granted citizenship or at least legalization through visas they would GLADLY pay taxes because they would get paid more (they’re currently subsidizing the entire labor force which is a huge contribution).
Furthermore, in so many cases it is US corporations and our governments’ corrupt agreements that have destroyed these people’s local economies. If you believe in the free-market, you should believe in eliminating barriers for labor to flow. Corporations and jobs have moved; why can’t people? Allowing more people into the workforce actually creates more jobs as demand increases, and if you legalize these workers, the tax base expands as well.
Its about time Hats off to you Ms Riddle and I plan to write to Gov Perry to suggest he support this bill. I personal am sick and tired of being a second rate citizen in my own country. NO MORE Illegals Immigration tolerance at the tax payers cost. I have no problem if they come through and get processed properly. I do however believe we need to make the process a little smoother for those who want to come here and add not take over our customs. .. or require special treatment to intergrate into our country and abide by our laws.
I want you to fight this all the way
I applaud and support you all the way on immigration reform. It is about time we had some one in this state stand up and do some thing about it. I will contact the Gov. and my State Rep to urge them to support these bills. Thanks to you Ms. Riddle.
Roel,
Everyone’s heart strings can be pulled when talking about children. The truth of the matter is their parent chose to disobey the law “which has not been enforced for sometime” due to political correctness. It has got to stop.
My friend has taught ESL classed in Conroe. The students hatred for America was a mere reflection of thier parents attitude.
I have met many hispanics that came here legally that agree that this has to stop.
In reply to the Roel Sanchez comment. If he is so concerned about students being separated from their friends, family, and life then help them be reunited with them back where they are legal. Parents breaking the law are not providing the correct example for their children. Kids shouldn’t learn that to get your way it is ok to break laws and cut in line.
Roel Sanchez, I sponsored many people 20 years ago so that they could become citizens. I cannot agree that anyone that shows up on our doorstep should automatically be granted citizenship, they should have to earn that respect. After all, I was born in this country and I was proud to serve it by joining the military during the Vietnam War, current immigrants only see our country as a “free lunch” and don’t want to do anything to contribute to the way of life in this country. I am willing to bet thaqt you have never served a day in the military and only serve in charitable organizations as an ex-officio and are not required to do anything but show uop for the photo ops. By the way, being elected to a political seat IS NOT, in my opinion, true public service, because the seat itself has certain perks.
Doubtless mass immigration lobbyists and the cheap labor interests, as well as far to many members of the Texas Senate will oppose this legislation on the grounds that it will cost too much.
This is the sort of foggy thinking and political self service that digs us ever deeper into debt. Indeed, enforcement of our immigration laws doesn’t cost, it pays. Reductions in demands on our education, health care and law enforcement and social services will lighten taxpayers burden substantially as enforcement policies kick in. And lets not forget the reductive effect on taxes that ‘voluntary self deportation’ would have as illegals and coyote’s figure out that Texas is serious about enforcement. I applaud allowing state and local law enforcement involvement in identifying illegal aliens operating in our state. It is responsible, sound, effective use of taxpayers dollars. Texans are already getting ‘dinged’ for state and local law enforcement, ergo it makes pragmatic sense to use LE as a much needed force multiplier to aid in identifying, detaining and deporting illegal aliens.
I’d also like to recommend that the Texas Legislature seriously consider adding ‘asset forfeiture’, a common law enforcement practice used in cases ranging from simple code enforcement, to traffic and proof of insurance violations, to tax evasion and drug distribution, to their legislative bills. Asset forfeiture would help offset the costs to Texans, and would serve as an added dis-incentive for illegal aliens to enter or remain in our state.
Indeed, the prospect of being deprived of the ‘ill-gotten gains’ they violated our immigration laws, committed identity theft or mortgage fraud to obtain, would send an unmistakable message to all those contemplating making Texas a target.
Likewise, Employers facing the loss of cars, trucks, tools, homes, real estate, might be motivated to reconsider their choices, and opt instead to ‘compete’ for legal workers to fill their job openings.
Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, crumbling infrastructure, diminishing resources, water and energy shortages, vanishing farm land and green space, lack of affordable housing, overcrowded schools and hospitals, crime, pollution, depressed wages, increased tax burdens, the balaknization of our communities, the marginalization of Texas workers, taxpayers and voters, the overall decline in quality of life, are all the result of unconstrained immigration and lax enforcement. Like it or not folks, too many people competing for the same limited resources is NOT sane, sustainable social, economic or environmental policy. This legislation is just what Texas needs.
So proud that you have the courage to bring this to the fore…I think many of us ex-military men would gladly sacrifice days to come and back up the border. We welcome ‘participants’ in our country, not pandering.
I want you to fight this all the way
Roel Sanchez, I sponsored many people 20 years ago so that they could become citizens. I cannot agree that anyone that shows up on our doorstep should automatically be granted citizenship, they should have to earn that respect. After all, I was born in this country and I was proud to serve it by joining the military during the Vietnam War, current immigrants only see our country as a “free lunch” and don’t want to do anything to contribute to the way of life in this country. I am willing to bet thaqt you have never served a day in the military and only serve in charitable organizations as an ex-officio and are not required to do anything but show uop for the photo ops. By the way, being elected to a political seat IS NOT, in my opinion, true public service, because the seat itself has certain perks.
In reply to the Roel Sanchez comment. If he is so concerned about students being separated from their friends, family, and life then help them be reunited with them back where they are legal. Parents breaking the law are not providing the correct example for their children. Kids shouldn’t learn that to get your way it is ok to break laws and cut in line.
[...] immigration bill seeks to cut the $4 Billion in Illegal Dependence from state health care bills Representative Riddle Files “Arizona Style” Legislation, Voter ID Bill|Debbie Riddle The Cuts will be painful as new consumption fuel taxes go up at the pump and thousands of layoffs [...]
It is NOT possible to make all illegal aliens – and we do NOT need to give all of the illegal aliens a green card. AND YOU SAY GIVE EVERYONE $1,000.00??? Who do you want to give this to YOU??? FROM WHAT CHECKING ACCOUNT? Our government is bankrupt because we GIVE so much to so many foreign illegal aliens.
Are you serious? The proposed bill does not single out Mexicans, only illegals that, like you said, might be Chinese, or Indian, or even Swedes. Makes no difference, If they are here illegally that makes them criminals. The 1982 law you mention is a prime factor there are so many today, instead of stopping the flow of them, it only encourages more to come in hopes of another amnesty. Had the Federal government done their job at the time, the ones already here would have got their green card, but all others wouldn’t have been allowed in. No more ILLEGALS!
I am constantly amazed at the people who refer to my ancestors in comparsion to Illegal aliens to try to make breaking the sovereignty of our nation a crutch to justify being here. Thank you and all who support your efforts in this Quest.