Texas State Convention And The Texas Solution

by Sonja Harris on May 29, 2014 at 7:41 AM

Texans will soon be heading to the largest Republican State Convention in the US in Fort Worth on June 5 – 7. Delegates and Alternates will convene to decide on convention rules, the Texas platform and to vote for different officials including the Republican Party State Chairman. This article will only address The Texas Solution.

The word Amnesty strikes FEAR in the hearts and minds of some Texans. This word also solidifies their brain into one mass cell. The interesting fact is that the meaning of amnesty has been hijacked. Amnesty is a general pardon of all transgressions. Before I go any further let me reassure you that I am against blanket amnesty or open borders.

What is frightening is the fact that so much negativity is being promoted concerning the Texas Solution. Assumptions are being made that are totally false. While there was much debate and discussion at the 2012 convention, I do not recall seeing any guns pointed at the Delegates to vote FOR the Texas Solution. As I remember, the Delegates voted FOR the Texas Solution of their own free will.

Battleground Texas continues to work patiently, quietly, consistently, methodically, to reach as many Texans as they possibly can before November’s general election. In fact, according to Battleground Texas, there are 17,000 volunteers presently working to turn Texas Blue. Rhetoric is the most important tool we have and we must learn to use it wisely. A positive message will declare that we are willing to solve an issue that is long overdue.

Words like unpatriotic, operatives, RINOS, liars, schizophrenically, forced, are being utilized to describe Delegates FOR the Texas Solution. ‘Cheap’ labor, voters, pathway to citizenship, legalize, are words describing the contents of the Texas Solution. I can tell you that the accusation that the Republican Party of Texas is pushing amnesty is bogus. Harsh words are being used as scare tactics aimed at Delegates attending the 2014 state convention. This is a form of ‘bullying’ by those who do not comprehend what they read, or maybe have not bothered to read, the Texas Solution. Name calling has always been a way to control the sheeple. Saul Alinsky used it and now our very own are using this method, “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” If you are a Delegate, don’t allow yourself to be manipulated.

What I find amusing is the use of the word schizophrenia. According to the dictionary, schizophrenia is a mental disorder often characterized by abnormal social behavior and failure to recognize what is real. What is very real is the fact that Texas will be predominately Hispanic by 2020. Common symptoms of schizophrenia include false beliefs, confused or unclear thinking. It seems to me that this best describes those who are panicking about the Texas Solution.

The other word in addressing the Delegates who favor the Texas Solution is ‘unpatriotic’. The sheer fact that Delegates are willing to spend their time and treasure to attend a convention to solve issues indicates that they are patriots, whether they are FOR or AGAINST The Texas Solution. Each Delegate has the right to an opinion. That is why it is critical that every Delegate and Alternate read the 2012 Republican platform’s Texas Solution so that you can make an informed decision. Don’t fall victim to mob hysteria. Most likely there will be some changes to the Texas Solution and we must stay open minded to the amendments offered.

Some are even calling for mass deportation. Please use common sense when determining your decision as mass deportation is unthinkable, unless you want to go back to the time we interned all Japanese Americans during WWII. Another initiative was implemented in 1954 called ‘Operation Wetback’. This derogatory named program managed to deport an approximate 1M but ultimately angered Americans of Hispanic decent and in actuality became a futile program as illegal immigrants continued to cross the border. If America cannot supply the demand for unskilled labor, then who will work the fields, clean our hotels, construct our houses? Entitled college graduates, those on welfare? It is a secured border that we are seeking in order to stop the flow of illegals crossing into the US.

Republicans must be part of the solution not part of the problem. Anyone can be part of the problem, but it takes critical thinking and leadership to be part of the solution. How hard would it be to ‘see’ the American Hispanic as an ally, someone who has the same conservative family and fiscal values and work towards ‘recruiting’ them into the party that holds their values?

Texas has the opportunity to be the leader in solving our border issue and make an impact for the rest of America to follow! If you are a Delegate you may contact the Platform Committee Chairman and let him know of any suggestions you may have. Otherwise wait until you attend the convention. DON’T BE PART OF THE PROBLEM BE PART OF THE SOLUTION! SAY YES TO A TEXAS SOLUTION!

RED SONJA 2014©
Pray, Fight, Never Give UP!

TEXAS SOLUTION AS VOTED ON AT THE STATE CONVENTION 2012 IMMIGRATION page 21

The Texas Solution – Because of decades-long failure of the federal government to secure our borders and address the immigration issue, there are now upwards of 11 million undocumented individuals in the United States today, each of whom entered and remain here under different circumstances. Mass deportation of these individuals would neither be equitable nor practical; while blanket amnesty, as occurred with the Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986, would only encourage future violations of the law. We seek common ground to develop and advance a conservative, market- and law-based approach to our nation’s immigration issues by following these principles:

1. Secure Our Borders – The U.S. Border must be secured immediately! We demand the application of effective, practical and reasonable measures to secure our borders and to bring safety and security for all Americans along the border and throughout the nation.
2. Modernize the United States Social Security Card – We support the improvement of our 1936 Social Security card to use contemporary anti-counterfeit technology. The social security card will not be considered a National ID card for U.S. citizens.
3. Birthright Citizenship – We call on the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the United States to clarify Section 1 of the 14th amendment to limit citizenship by birth to those born to a citizen of the United States with no exceptions.
4. Create an Effective and Efficient Temporary Worker Program – A national Temporary Worker Program should be implemented to bring skilled and unskilled workers into the United States for temporary periods of time when no U.S. workers are currently available. The program should also require:
Self-funding through participation fees and fines;
Applicants must pass a full criminal background check;
Applicants with prior immigration violations would only qualify for the program if they paid the appropriate fines;
Applicants and/or Employers must prove that they can afford and/or secure private health insurance;
Applicants must waive any and all rights to apply for financial assistance from any public entitlement programs;
Applicant must show a proficiency in the English language and complete an American civic class;
Temporary Workers would only be able to work for employers that deduct and match payroll taxes;
All participants would be issued an individual Temporary-Worker Biometric Identification Card that tracks all address changes and both civil and criminal court appearances as a defendant.

2012 Republican Party of Texas Platform
http://s3.amazonaws.com/texasgop_pre/assets/original/2012Platform_Final.pdf

TEXAS STATE CONVENTION PLATFORM AND RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
http://www.texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Platform-and-Resolutions-Committee-2014.pdf

CAROLYN HODGES is FOR TEXAS SOLUTION
TEXAS FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN
Immediate Past President sent out letter to Delegates May 12, 2014

EXCERPT: The result that was passed by the TFRW Board of Directors with only one dissenting vote in January, 2013, called for comprehensive immigration reform in our country that resembled the principles of “The Texas Solution.”

Our Texas population is expanding daily. Having a guest worker program is important to our economy in many aspects. State of the art technology must be used to document guest workers and to make sure they are employed only by business people that deduct and match taxes.

SENATOR TED CRUZ on Immigration
“I have said many times that I want to see common-sense immigration reform pass. I think most Americans want to see the problem fixed.”

What those for NO TEXAS SOLUTION are saying:
Did you know that members of the RPT Platform Committee are planning to support Amnesty in Texas? Without your help the Texas GOP Platform will include the "Texas Solution", the first step toward Amnesty.

What is going on?

Corporate interests and progressives seek to lay the groundwork for promoting immigration reform. Corporate groups hope that “guest worker programs” and amnesty will allow for cheaper labor costs at the expense of American workers. Progressives hope that the Texas Solution will increase the number of liberal voters in Texas by eventually providing citizenship voting rights to their base of supporters.

The current RPT Platform committee has been stacked with SREC members who have been pressured to support the “Texas Solution”, the first step towards full Amnesty. They have refused to listen to grassroots delegates like yourself that want our borders secured first. What can you do?

First, make sure that you attend the RPT Convention in Fort Worth. Second, write these pro-Texas Solution SREC members and politely tell them that you do not support Amnesty or the Texas Solution. In 2010, the RPT platform consisted of excellent "rule of law" planks, one of which was S.A.V.E.U.S.A. listed below:

S.A.V.E. U.S.A. – We support seven key steps to secure America.
S – Secure America’s border; Northern, Southern, and ports.
A – Abolish Adjustment of Status in the United States.
V – Vigorously enforce immigration laws using federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
E – Eliminate government benefits to illegal aliens.
U – Unimpeded deportation process.
S – Stop employment of illegal aliens.
A – Amend legal immigration rates to more sustainable levels.

Friends and Patriots...

There is a national and state push by some GOP operatives to "legalize" illegal aliens through the back door. First they talk about education for the Dreamers, then about a "guest worker" program, then about "unifying families"...but they never talk about enforcing the existing laws such as punishing businesses that hire illegal aliens, or truly protecting the border.

In Texas, we must remove the "Texas Solution" from the Texas GOP platform that uses a guest worker program as a step to legalization. It pretends to address the illegal labor issue while "working to find a long term solution". Work with whom? The Obama administration? The Texas Solution opens a can of worms because it lacks details. What the unemployed or under-employed we currently have? What about Welfare Reform to get able bodied people to work ahead of illegals?

We must draw the line on the illegal immigration issue and oppose any and all "solutions" other than enforcement of existing laws. By the way...I'm Hispanic and I don't scare myself with this "harsh talk". I'm an American first, and I want my nation's laws enforced and its borders respected.

George Rodriguez, South Texas Tea Party Patriots

IMMIGRATION FIGHT SIMMERS AHEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS CONVENTION
HOUSTON – Business interests here in Southeast Texas and elsewhere are working to marshal their forces ahead of what could be a bloody fight at the Republican Party of Texas convention in June over where the party stands on the thorny issue of immigration. Two years ago – after a bitter late night floor fight – the party platform was modified to include support for a guest worker program, which business leaders were happy to see included.

Now, some Tea Party activists and others are laying the groundwork for the party to go back to supporting an enforcement-only approach to immigration, according to draft language obtained by Quorum Report.

Texas Eagle Forum President Cathie Adams told QR on Monday that the people who pushed the party to support a guest worker program were “putting the cart before the horse.” She argued that the RPT is in a precarious position because of it and a hardline stance is what’s needed heading into the 2015 legislative session. "We're not supporters of guest workers," she said. "Elected officials keep talking about how we have to secure the border first," Adams said. “Let's get back to fixing the problem."

Under the draft language floated by Adams, which you can read in its entirety here. a guest worker program has been deleted and instead the Republican Party would “reject any and all calls for blanket or incremental amnesty and encourage the enforcement of existing state and federal laws regarding border security, national security, immigration and employment.” It also says "illegal employment and illegal immigration have a negative effect on American workers actively seeking jobs, and taxpayers who are saddled with paying illegals’ healthcare, education and welfare benefits."

As our readers remember, the 2011 legislative session was a particularly nasty one when it came to immigration. That year, lawmakers emotionally debated a ban on so-called “sanctuary cities” for undocumented immigrants. That proposal did not pass. The 2013 session saw none of that and many have said the reason it was left alone was the Texas GOP’s more nuanced stance on the issue. This year, Sen. Dan Patrick promises to bring back the “sanctuary cities” debate if he is elected Lt. Governor. He has also stressed the need, as he sees it, to do away with in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. That’s despite the fact that one of his biggest supporters and financial backers, Dr. Steve Hotze of Houston, worked with others like Houston insurance broker and longtime Republican activist Norman Adams to insert the guest worker language into the RPT platform in 2012.

Adams, an insurance agent who has served on the RPT Platform Committee multiple times, said reverting to a position similar to the one held by the party prior to 2012 would be “kicking the can down the road.” The party’s position at the time, Adams said, was simply to list the problems presented by illegal immigration while offering nothing in the way of a fix. “It was a continuation of what everyone agrees is de facto amnesty,” Adams said.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson was the only elected officeholder to argue in favor of the guest worker language when it was adopted. As a former candidate for Lite Guv, Patterson pointed out on Monday that every one of the four current and former candidates in the race have agreed that it’s not practical for the United States to deport all of the people who are in the country without legal status.

After hearing the news that Cathie Adams and others want to go back to the party’s old position, Patterson said he wasn’t sure whether he would be at the convention this year making the same case he did two years ago. He did, however, say that he’d continue to “vocally support” the current language.

“Come up with a solution for what we do with the 12 million people who are here illegally and then we can talk about changing the party platform," Patterson said.

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