AUSTIN - Texas Tea Party leaders, challenging Rick Perry to dispel doubts about his stance on illegal immigration, on Monday demanded that the Texas governor call lawmakers back to work to enact a controversial "sanctuary cities" bill and other major immigration measures.
The sanctuary cities bill would freeze state funding for local governments that prohibit officers from asking detainees about their immigration status. The measure provoked one of the Legislature's most contentious debates this year and failed to survive the 140-day regular session and a subsequent special session.Although Perry proclaimed the bill a top priority, the measure drew behind-the-scenes resistance from influential business leaders, including Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, one of the governor's biggest individual political donors. Hispanic lawmakers openly assailed the bill, saying it would lead to racial profiling.A half-dozen Tea Party leaders urged the front-running Republican presidential candidate to either call a special session to enact the sanctuary cities bill or issue an executive order that would have the same effect. At least two of Perry's Republican presidential opponents have sought to portray Perry as being weak on immigration because of his support of a 2007 Texas law that grants in-state tuition for illegal immigrants."Gov. Perry needs to clarify his position on illegal immigration," said JoAnn Fleming of Tyler, chair of the Texas Tea Party Caucus Advisory Committee. "He needs to come back to Texas and finish this unfinished business."The Tea Party representatives presented Perry's office with stacks of letters containing more than 3,000 signatures."Although we do not necessarily hold you completely responsible for the inexcusable actions of the House and Senate members during the regular and special sessions, the ball is now squarely in your court," said the letter. "It is solely within your power as Governor to call the legislature into session and demand they complete the important work that they promised their constituents they would do."The letter cited a recent University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll showing that Texas voters consider illegal immigration the most important problem facing the state. Inadequate border security ranked second."We welcome support for efforts to outlaw sanctuary city policies and encourage those interested to communicate their concerns to members of the Texas Legislature.," said Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed. "Gov. Perry already agrees that sanctuary city policies must end.Perry designated the sanctuary city bill as an emergency item that made it a fast-track priority. After it collapsed during the regular session, Perry included the measure among several items for consideration in the special session that he called to deal with unfinished budget business.Efforts to kill billDespite his public commitment to the measure, some critics questioned the depth of the governor's support after reports that Bob Perry, who is no relation to the governor, and San Antonio grocery store magnate Charles Butt were waging a sub-surface effort to scuttle the bill.Bob Perry and his wife, Doylene, have contributed more than $2 million to Rick Perry since 2001. The Houston homebuilder has also donated to the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, whose members led opposition to the sanctuary cities bill.Perry's support of the in-state tuition measure drew national attention in a Republican debate last week when Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann charged that the Texas law gives "taxpayer subsidized benefits to people who have broken our laws."Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who vetoed legislation providing instate tuition for illegal immigration, has also seized on the issue as part of his effort to retake the lead from Perry in the Republican nomination race.Dave Montgomery is the Star-Telegram's Austin Bureau chief, 512-476-4294Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
