AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas Republicans began their push Tuesday to ban so-called “sanctuary cities” in the state, taking up a hotly contested bill seeking to impose stricter immigration limits by withholding grant money from local jurisdictions that don’t hand over immigrants already in custody awaiting possible deportation.
The Senate was poised for hours of debate and preliminary approval over fierce objections from Democrats, who are powerless to stop the proposal from passing a chamber dominated by a large GOP majority. A Senate vote this week would send the bill in near-record time to the Republican-controlled House, where it also appears likely to pass.
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the issue an “emergency” for Texas - allowing the bill to speed past legislative timing rules - and has pledged to sign a sanctuary cities ban into law once it reaches his desk.
The term “sanctuary cities” has no legal definition, but Republicans want local police to enforce federal immigration law as part of a larger effort to crackdown on criminal suspects who are in the United States illegally. The issue has become contentious in states across the country, especially with President Donald Trump promising to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities, wall off the entire U.S.-Mexico border and impose strict federal immigration policies.
As proposed, Texas’ bill applies to local police forces and law enforcement at college campuses, and seeks to strip authorities of state-controlled grant funding if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration agents. Abbott even has also called for a mechanism to remove locally elected officials if they dare not comply.
Supporters say local law enforcement agencies shouldn’t be allowed to ignore some laws while enforcing others. Bill sponsor Sen. Charles Perry, a Republican from Lubbock in West Texas, blamed some of the opposition to the bill on “fear mongering.” He also read a list of Texans who were killed by immigrants in the country illegally.
“This bill is about the rule of law. This is not a deportation bill,” Perry said. “My bill doesn’t affect those (immigrants) who are here, working and feeding their families as long as they don’t break the law.”
But opponents say it opens the door to discrimination and intimidation.
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ETHICS OVERHAUL
The Texas Senate has unanimously approved a bill aimed at curbing conflicts of interest with elected officials and adding new punishments for those convicted of crimes.
Tuesday’s vote makes the ethics overhaul the first piece of legislation to clear either chamber this session.
The bill requires elected officials to reveal more of their business dealings, stops pensions if they are convicted of felony public corruption charges and removes them from office once their appeals are exhausted.
It also closes a loophole allowing lobbyists to wine and dine lawmakers without disclosing it.
The measure further forbids the “revolving door” letting lawmakers become lobbyists immediately after leaving office.
A proposal doing similar cleared the Senate last session, but stalled in the House amid questions about requiring political nonprofits to disclose top donors.
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TRUMP THREAT
President Donald Trump told a Texas sheriff they could “destroy” the career of a state lawmaker trying to reform asset forfeiture laws that critics say police abuse as a funding source.
Trump’s comment Tuesday drew laughs during a meeting with sheriffs in the White House while reporters were present. The remark followed Rockwall County Sheriff Harold Eavenson criticizing an unnamed state senator who believes police shouldn’t receive forfeiture money unless a case ends in conviction.
Trump responded: “Who is the state senator? Do you want to give his name? We’ll destroy his career.”
The sheriff wouldn’t say and it, was unclear to whom Eavenson was referring.
Republican state Sen. Konni Burton has proposed the most sweeping forfeiture reforms but wouldn’t stop to answer questions outside the Senate on Tuesday.
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CAMPAIGN FINANCE CASE
A case involving political “dark money” and the founder of an organization tied to President Donald Trump’s accusations of voter fraud could lead to a crush of anonymous cash infiltrating elections in the country’s second-largest state, a Democratic lawyer warned the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The nine Republican justices on Texas’ highest civil court heard arguments involving the legality of the state’s ban on corporate contributions, disclosure requirements for political action committees and the question of when a politically active nonprofit should have to disclose its donors like a traditional PAC. Some believe that the case ultimately could wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court and potentially reshape campaign finance regulations nationwide.
Houston tea party group King Street Patriots, started by Catherine Engelbrecht, has been the focus of a longstanding lawsuit by the Texas Democratic Party accusing the organization of violating state campaign finance laws by engaging in political behavior when it dispatched poll watchers on behalf of the Texas Republican Party during the 2010 election.
But the nonprofit, represented by Indiana attorney James Bopp Jr. - architect of the landmark Citizens United case that opened the door for corporations and unions to make unlimited independent expenditures in U.S. elections - has fired back with a counterclaim challenging numerous provisions of Texas campaign finance law.
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ON DECK
The House next gavels in on Wednesday at 10 a.m. but floor sessions remain restricted to ceremonial resolutions since no committees have yet been announced by Speaker Joe Straus - meaning debate on even the highest-priority bills can’t yet begin. The Senate, after taking up ethics reform measures and “sanctuary cities” proposals, isn’t expected to tackle much more heavy legislative lifting this week.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“What legislative day are we on?,” Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, objecting that House committees have not yet been assigned, even though the legislative session began Jan. 10.
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