Capitol Inside: Texas Republicans abandoned their hard-line stance on illegal immigration

FORT WORTH - Texas Republicans abandoned their hard-line stance on illegal immigration Friday night when they approved a state party platform proposal that calls for a national guest worker program as a practical solution to a problem that's mushroomed beyond the ability of current law to resolve. Delegates at the state GOP convention in Fort Worth had geared for a late-night fight on the less stringent language on illegal immigration that business interests pushed at the party's biennial gathering two years ago before conservative activists killed the platform provision there. But Republicans who favor a temporary worker program pitched it at the convention this weekend as a way to alleviate labor shortages in Texas through a system that pays for itself while being subject to tough standards for identification, eligibility and monitoring. While the state GOP blames the federal government for a porous border, the new platform acknowledges that the mass deportation of an estimated 11 million people in the U.S. illegally isn't a realistic option. The statement of principles and values portrays the worker program as a middle ground between blanket amnesty and the more restrictive position the state party had embraced until now. The worker program is part of a package of immigration policy revisions that the platform refers to as The Texas Solution. The platform includes proposals that demand stronger federal enforcement of border security laws, technological improvements to social security cards and clarified laws on citizenship requirements and qualifications. The relaxed approach on an issue that's been a top priority for GOP voters in Texas and other border states is the latest evidence of a slight pro-establishment shift in the state party leadership at a time when Republican voters have appeared to be moving more to the right. Conservatives who've joined forces under the tea party label expect to have a dramatic impact on Republican primary runoff elections in late July in races for the U.S. Senate, Congress, the Legislature and other elected offices. While the immigration proposals were the product of compromise negotiations before emerging from the state GOP platform committee with unanimous support, Texas Republican Chairman Steve Munisteri will be in position to receive the brunt of the credit and blame in light of the sway he wields over the process in which the plan was developed and refined. The vote by delegates on the convention floor in favor of the immigration plank came a year after conservative state legislators attempted without success to pass a strict illegal immigration crackdown plan similar to the controversial law that;s been on the books in Arizona for the past two years.  

Romney Ad Highlights Hispanic Unemployment

Happy 53rd Birthday Mr. Chairman

On behalf of the Hispanic Republican Conference of Texas we join Attorney General Greg Abbott and Cecilia in wishing State Representative Aaron Peña a Happy Birthday.

Gov. Perry: Tejano Monument Reflects Longtime Contributions of Hispanics to Our Great State

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today attended the dedication of a new
monument on the Texas State Capitol grounds honoring Hispanic
contributions to Texas History. The Tejano Monument is located on the south
lawn.

“This important monument reflects a larger truth about the origins of Texas,
about the contributions of so many Hispanic citizens to the creation of the
state we love and the lives we share,” Gov. Perry said. “These contributions
are ongoing with Latinos providing political, business and spiritual leadership
in communities throughout Texas. The future of our state is tied directly to
the future of our Hispanic population, and I believe we have a glorious future
ahead of us.”

The Tejano Monument was created by Laredo artist Armando Hinojosa and
consists of 11 life-size sculptures commemorating the 500-year role of
Tejanos in Texas and the Spanish-Mexican legacy in the state from 1500 to
1800.
Work on placing a Tejano Monument at the State Capitol began in 2001,
when legislators passed and Gov. Perry signed legislation establishing it. In
2007, the Legislature approved $1.087 million for completion of the
monument and an additional $1 million was raised through private donations.

Early Spanish and Mexican pioneers and their descendants have helped shape
the way of life in Texas, dating back to the 1500s. Today, some of our state’s
top Hispanic leaders include Secretary of State Hope Andrade; Texas Court
of Criminal Appeals Justice Elsa Alcala; Supreme Court Justice Eva
Guzman; Chancellor of the UT System Francisco Cigarroa; Austin Diocese
Bishop Joe Vasquez; and Presiding Officer at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission Jose Cuevas, just to name a few.

For more information about the Tejano monument, please visit
http://www.tejanomonument.com/.

State Representative candidate Miriam Martinez

McALLEN, March 8 - Former TV reporter Miriam Martinez is switching parties and will now run as a Republican in Texas House District 41.
Martinez told the Guardian on Thursday evening that she was quitting the Democrats because of the “threats” she had received for switching from Texas House District 40, which she originally filed in, to District 41.

“Bobby Guerra is the anointed one in District 41 and no one is allowed to run against him in the Democratic primary,” Martinez said. “Yesterday I confronted several people in the Democratic Party about their endorsements of Mr. Guerra and I was disturbed by what I heard. Today, I was contacted by my treasurer, telling me he was under a lot of pressure because of Dolly. The Democrats have cherry picked a candidate and it is not me,” Martinez said.

The “Dolly” Martinez is referring to is Dolly Elizondo, chair of the Hidalgo County Democratic Party. Elizondo said Martinez is making baseless accusations.

“She needs to find another excuse because that is totally false. Intimidation, I have never heard of such a thing. We do not run our party that way at all,” Elizondo said.

Elizondo did say she had spoken with Martinez on Wednesday about her bid to win District 41. “She called me yesterday and was angry that Veronica and I were supporting Bobby. I have not endorsed Bobby. She then made some comments about the party rules being broken and things like that but she never mentioned anything about leaving the party. She never mentioned anything about being intimidated or anything like that.”

State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, is not running for re-election in District 41. She has endorsed McAllen attorney R.D. “Bobby” Guerra as her successor.

“I felt saddened that there is no transparency and openness in the Democratic Party in Hidalgo County and I want to see change. I want to see an open platform. This is why I have decided to switch to the Republicans,” Martinez told the Guardian.

Martinez said some of the credit for her switching parties must go to former state Rep. Bob Hunter, R-Abilene. Martinez has got to know Hunter over the past few months due to her connections with Abilene Christian University. 

“Bob Hunter is a very distinguished gentleman who has been in the political arena for more than 20 years. I opened up to him and told him I was going through some tough times. I told him I just want to run and make a difference,” Martinez said.

Martinez said she broke the news to her staff on Thursday. “I told them this was a difficult battle and that I do not see any support from the Democratic establishment. It is very disturbing when I hear reports of people being told they will have their doors closed if they do not do as they are told to do,” Martinez said.

Asked if she had heard of any other Democrats who had wanted to run in District 41 but who had been persuaded not to, Martinez offered two names. “Abraham Padron, T.C. Betancourt. There is a reason they are not running. They have been pressured,” Martinez said.

Martinez said she has been told that Gov. Rick Perry and House Speaker Joe Straus will welcome her into the Republican ranks with open arms. “Bob Hunter tells me this will be huge. He said I can represent the people in a way no one else has, because I am for the public,” Martinez said.

Elizondo said it is Martinez’s prerogative to run in any party she feels comfortable in.

“Isn’t this like the fourth time she has switched? It is the fourth time she is going to switch to something. She told Annie’s List she was running in District 35. She was all set to run for 35 and at the signing she was supposed to announce for 35 and she switched to 40. Then, this week, she switched to 41,” Elizondo said. “I do not have any comment other than she seems to need to start to run for somewhere. She needs to run on her merits.”

Elizondo said she has not endorsed Guerra or any other Democrat in a primary election. “Bobby was the only Democrat in the 41 race and being the only Democrat in the race he had garnered a lot of support from the community, from the elected officials, from everyone. Miriam came in a few days ago. I do not know why she felt intimidated. I do not know who she talked to. In the conversation I had with her she was very angry. I think she had seen a picture of Bobby and I and Veronica on filing day. But I take pictures with every candidate. That’s my job. Out of courtesy to all the candidates I have never endorsed anyone in the primary, I have never taken sides for one Democrat over another and I never will,” Elizondo said.

Elizondo said Martinez did have a meeting with Rep. Gonzales on Thursday morning. “From what I have heard it was very positive.”

District 41 has been the center of attention among Texas House seats for some time. Late last year, Rep. Gonzales, who had been drawn into District 40 under the legislative-drawn map, announced she would not re-election. State Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, who currently represents District 40, had been drawn into District 41 under the map drawn by the Republican-dominated legislature.

However, this map was challenged in the courts, with District 41 identified by plaintiffs as one of a handful of House seats that violated the Voting Rights Act. In a compromise map agreed to by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force, the boundary lines for District 41 were changed again and it moved from being Republican-leaning - under the legislative-drawn map - to Democrat-leaning, under the new interim map issued by a federal panel in San Antonio late last month. When this happened, Peña said he would definitely not be running.

By Steve Taylor
Rio Grande Guardian

State Representative Raul Torres, R-Nueces, today filed his apllication to run for State Senate District 20, currently held by Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D

STATE REPRESENTATIVE RAUL TORRES FILES FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 20

Raul Torres Campaign
AUSTIN, TEXAS, 8 Mar 2012
State Representative Raul Torres, R-Nueces, today filed his apllication to run for State Senate District 20, currently held by Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen. Senate District 20 stretches from Nueces to Hidalgo and also includes Brooks as well and Jim Wells counties.

"Today, I filed to run for State Senate District 20 to make sure the hard working families of South Texas and the Coastal Bend have their voice heard in the State Senate," said Torres after submitting his application to appear on the Republican Primary ballot.

Torres' Senate campaign along with Representative J. M. Lozano's switch to the Republican Party indicates that Hispanics are a growing force within the Republican Party. Torres added, "Hispanics will decide the upcoming election and their growing numbers in the Republican Party reflect our shared values
and desire to secure a better future for all our families. It's also why I'm proud to have been endorsed by the Hispanic Republicans of Texas, a group dedicated to making sure Hispanic Republican candidates and elected officials are successful, giving them a real voice in the Party."

"I'm encouraged and humbled by the support I've received from Democrats, Republicans and Independents to run for Senate District 20. They support my plan to create jobs, improve our children's schools, end waste in government and stop higher taxes," commented Torres.

Raul Torres currently represents House District 33 in Nueces County. "This election is about ensuring the voice of the people is heard in Austin and its about returning the government back to the people," said Torres.

Welcome Representative Lozano To The Republican Party

Texas Democrats fail to deter another party switcher
by Pratt on Texas

On Monday I reported on Pratt on Texas, from the Rio Grande Gardian, that Kingsville state representative, J.M. Lozano, planned to leave the Democrat Party and run in the Republican Primary for re-election to the state house seat he currently holds. George P. Bush and others are credited with smoothing the way for Lozano who describes his voting record as conservative and “pro-life, pro-oil and gas, and pro-small-business.”

The small business owner told the Texas Tribune that his values are in-line with the Republican Party and the voters in his district. Lozano is a Texan and American by choice, he was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and became a U.S. citizen in 1986.
He told the Tribune that his attempt to take the Democrats in the direction of small-business interests was “fruitless.”
“Lozano will be the third Democrat to switch parties [recently], after Allan Ritter of Nederland, and Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg, switched in late 2010. Like Peña’s switch, however, Lozano’s decision is sure to cause a stir given the Latino legislator represents a portion of the Texas border traditionally known as a Democratic stronghold,” reported the Texas Tribune.

This can be nothing but crushing news to Texas Democrats because it is clear that they did everything in their power set an example with Rep. Aaron Peña by working to destroy his political career. Democrats once again have shown that it’s all about Party and ideology, not power for minorities as they claim.

Just like their efforts at the ballot box of late, the attempt to deter didn’t work. Welcome Representative Lozano.