Texas Republicans are sending a strong rebuke to the coalition of liberal Republicans and Democrats who control the Texas House. The party rank and file are once again demanding House leadership end its efforts to give drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens.
In recent years allies of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, led by State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana), have pushed to create a “Texas Resident Drivers’ Permit,” which would essentially serve as a drivers’ license specifically made available for illegal aliens. Originally justified as a measure to enable illegal aliens to obtain car insurance, Cook was forced to concede last session that drivers’ licenses are not required for insurance.
Over 93% of delegates to the state GOP convention voted to adopt a plank specifically declaring that drivers licenses shall not be issued to anyone illegally in the country. The plank reads in full:
Drivers Licenses- We propose that every Texas driver’s license shall indicate whether the driver is a United States citizen. Licenses shall not be issued to anyone illegally in the country. The State of Texas shall not recognize as valid any state driver license photo where the person’s face is obscured.
Amnesty supporters have called Byron Cook, arguably the third most powerful Republican in the Texas House, their best friend and ally. Cook and Straus are likely to continue to obstruct and thwart the will of 93% of Republicans who demand action on border security and illegal immigration.
