Well, it’s just a meeting of the conservative masterminds isn’t it?
My good friends and great authors, Steve Bierfeldt, Francisco Gonzalez and Brendan Steinhauser appeared on my dear friend Stephen Dinkel’s radio program today.
Archive for August 21st, 2008
Service, Reform, Prosperity and Peace
August 21, 2008Four words that tie today by a single smile are service, reform, prosperity and peace. I had the opportunity to witness service to my community in McAllen, Texas on Tuesday as people came together to care–for everyone.
Some fared better than others in the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly. I witnessed firsthand how much work is put into preparing for a full scale emergency preparedness operation, but even the best preparations can’t stop Mother Nature from doing as she pleases and disrupting an otherwise lazy summer season.
Homes and businesses were destroyed, power was lost, trees were uprooted and hope could easily seem lost for those families who struggle to make ends meet as it is.
Emergency operations forces struggled to reform these badly harmed areas but the aftermath still hurts, especially with schools getting ready to kick off a new year.
Thousands lined up outside the McAllen Police Department on Tuesday, after the familiar rains had poured the day before. Many of us feared the rain would pour on into the next day, but rain or shine, volunteers planned to line up school supplies and get the line going for children to prepare for a prosperous new school year.
“Smiles are free today,” I overheard the Chief tell the kids as they scurried up with sparkling smiles to grab a McAllen Police Department Sticker.
It’s expected that well over a thousand kids received back to school kits that Tuesday afternoon. Their new pencils, safety scissors, notebooks, rulers, school boxes, colored pencils–and smiles–assured the community that no matter what curveball Mother Nature throws us, a community can come together and help one another in hopes for a peaceful end to what was a painful natural disaster.
Congratulations, Rio Grande Valley, in a world where debate can easily divide us, your community came together for something beautiful.
NOTE: This was originally written for Contempo Magazine, which can be read here.
Texas Making Progress with Immigration Reform
August 21, 2008Sanctuary cities have been a longstanding hurdle in the battle for immigration reform. But if two good Texans have their way, all that will change.
Two conservative lawmakers, State Rep. Frank Corte (R-San Antonio) and State Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston), have asked Attorney General Greg Abbott for opinions on the legality of several tough measures designed to fight illegal immigration.
One would allow the state to pull the business licenses of companies which hire illegals. Another would ban cities from having so called ‘Sanctuary City’ laws on the books.
Both Houston and Austin have ‘Sanctuary” laws in place, which forbid local police from inquiring about a suspect, victim, or witnesses immigration status. Supporters of “Sanctuary Laws” say if witnesses and victims are afraid of being deported, they won’t come forward, and crime will go unpunished.
Illegal immigration laws were introduced in the 2007 session, including measures which would require that landlords not rent apartments to illegals. But they all failed, after Abbott ruled the measures would violate federal law, or the U.S. Constitution.
In their letter to the Attorney General requesting the opinion, Corte and Patrick cite a law in Oklahoma which forbids “Sanctuary Cities” there.
Remember, immigration reform is about securing the borders, protecting human life and preventing the exploiting of workers by the employers who hire them. A lot needs to be done to correct the problem and ending the existence of “Sanctuary Cities” is a good start.
YCT Endorses Joan Huffman for State Senate District 17
August 21, 2008This is a prepared statement I released today on behalf of YCT:
(Houston) The Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) which is recognized as the largest, bipartisan and most active youth conservative group in the state, with nearly a three-decade history of activism, has endorsed Joan Huffman in the race for Senatorial District 17.
YCT, which was founded in 1980, issues the most recognized conservative/liberal ratings of the state legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the last 14 sessions. YCT also maintains an active effort to support conservative legislation and is therefore highly aware of issues facing prospective state senators. Utilizing this experience, YCT has determined that Joan Huffman would be the most effective senator to promote a conservative agenda and who has the best chance to beat Chris Bell in the race for Senate District 17.
“Joan’s experience as a tough-on-crime criminal district court judge, her conservative principles and her down-to-earth approach make her an excellent choice to represent the constituents of this important district,” said Laura Elizabeth Morales, YCT Director of Public Relations.
YCT uses questionnaires and personal interviews along with meticulous research to identify each candidate’s positions on the issues before making their endorsement decisions.
“The Young Conservatives of Texas see Senate District 17 as a vital seat for this election and urge conservatives to get behind Joan Huffman to defeat liberal Chris Bell this fall,” says Morales. “Joan is a candidate that voters will be and are excited about. She will make an excellent Senator.”
YCT currently boasts a half-dozen members or alumni in the legislature, as well as having elected two of its own to the U.S. Congress. YCT has chapters at Texas Tech University, West Texas A&M University, A&M University, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at San Antonio. YCT is a bi-partisan grassroots political organization that has been fighting for conservative values for more than a quarter century in the Lone Star State.
To learn more visit http://www.yct.org
