Members of the Texas Senate have heeded the call of citizens to ban “sanctuary city” policies that protect illegal aliens and harbor criminals. Now the question is: Will the Texas House answer the call?
The liberal Democrat coalition controlling the Republican House leadership has been a roadblock to many conservative reforms. They have also tried to push programs like driver’s permits for illegal aliens while giving in-state tuition to people who are in the country illegally.
Passage of Senate Bill 4, banning sanctuary cities in the Lone Star State, comes on the heels of Gov. Greg Abbott denying some state funds to Travis County because of the local Democrat sheriff’s desire to protect illegal aliens. It also comes as the Texas House has yet to even establish committees, let alone begin hearing legislation.
House Speaker Joe Straus has mastered the art of delaying the calendar to prevent conservative reforms from getting a vote. It seems clear that he and his Democrat power base are engaged in an operation to slow down the flow of legislation supported by Texas conservatives.
Voters and taxpayers are now wondering if Straus and other Republicans who enable the Democrat coalition will continue to protect sanctuary cities, or if will they join the governor, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and the Texas Senate in banning the abhorrent practice?
