Of Senate's debate on HB438:
Sen Hegar introduces the bill
(starts at 13hrs, 12mins, 13sec)
Sen. Patrick – forces a vote on Property Tax Appraisal Caps Amendment to HB438
(starts at 13hr, 13min, 00sec)
Of Senate's debate on HB1:
Sen. Patrick - state overall budget
(starts at 9hr, 54min, 52sec)
Of Senate's debate on SB920:
Sen. Patrick - Ultrasound Requirement before an Abortion
(starts at 2hr, 07min, 20sec)
Of Senate's debate on HB1034:
Sen. Patrick - Placing "Under God" in Texas pledge
(starts at 8hrs, 09min, 30sec)
Of Senate's budget debate:
Sen. Patrick and Sen. Ogden -overall budget debate
(starts at 1hr, 32min, 45sec)
-AND-
Sen. Patrick and Sen. Williams - border security funding
(starts at 4hr, 36min, 10sec)
-AND-
Sen. Patrick, Sen. Gallegos, Sen. Lucio and Sen. Whitmire - property owners who receive tax cuts are "rich."
(starts at 5hr, 1min, 20sec)
(Real Video - Apr. 12, 2007).
Of Senator Patrick's Personal Privilege speech following the Senate's opening prayer.
(Real Video - Apr 4, 2007
starts at 1hr and 45 min).
Of Senator Patrick's remarks on:
Privacy amendment to electric deregulation
(starts at 1hr, 52min)
-AND-
Truth in taxation amendment to electric deregulation bill
(starts at 1hr, 58min)
-AND-
Spending reduction question from Sen. Shapleigh
(starts at 2hr, 3min, 35sec)
(Real Video - Mar. 15, 2007).
Of Senator Patrick and Senator Shapleigh's debate on English language in public schools.
(Real Video - Mar. 15, 2007
starts at 1hr).
Of Senator Patrick's pastor Randy Weaver delivery of the invocation
(Real Video - Mar. 14, 2007
starts at 1 minute).
Of Senator Patrick's remarks on "SR 384 " (conduct in the Texas Youth Commission).
(Real Video - Feb 28, 2007 starts at
28 min).
Of Senator Patrick's
Sales Tax Holiday Press Conference.
(Real Video - Feb 28, 2007).
Of Senator Patrick's remarks on spending on high school sports
(Senate Education Committee).
(Real Video - Feb 27, 2007 starts at
20 min, 20 sec.).
Of Senator Patrick's $1 Million Dollar Press Conference.
(Real Video - Feb 14, 2007).
Of Senator Patrick's remarks on "SCR 20" (busting the spending cap).
(Real Video - Feb 14, 2007 starts at
1 hour 13 min 48 secs).
Of Senate's approval of Sen. Patrick's "In God We Trust" resolution. (Real Video - Jan 30, 2007 starts at
30 min 40 secs).
Of Senate floor debate on the "Blocker Bill."
(Real Video - Jan 9, 2007 starts at
2 min 30 secs).
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Take Control of our Destiny by Securing our Border
by State Sen. Dan Patrick
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When I was elected to the Texas Senate in 2006 with almost 70 percent of the vote, I knew that my message of securing our border with Mexico had struck a supportive chord with voters. My constituents also sent me to Austin with a clear mandate to address the escalation of their property taxes and their concern about unrestrained state spending. However, illegal immigration clearly was foremost in their minds.
Texas provides tax-based services to an estimated 1.6 million undocumented residents. (Houston’s entire population is 2 million.) Our hospitals, schools, jails and social services are overwhelmed by the vast number of people who have crossed our borders illegally. Today, illegal aliens represent 21 percent of the medical case load in Texas. At the Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital in Houston (a public hospital), 81 percent of the babies born last year were to mothers who were illegal aliens.
Our federal prison system reports that 17 percent of all prisoners are illegal aliens, and law-enforcement authorities estimate that as many as 30 percent of those incarcerated locally are likewise here illegally. Our schools face the challenge of accepting students who speak little or no English and have no meaningful educational background. Educating these students costs our system 30 percent to 40 percent more than it does to educate an American-born student.
The U.S. Constitution lays the responsibility for securing our national borders at the feet of the federal government. However, Washington has demonstrated that it is unwilling to enforce the current immigration laws. Instead, many in the U.S. Congress use the code words "comprehensive reform" to describe their plans to reward those who enter our country illegally.
The time to act is now. If the feds will not do the job, then Texas must protect its border. We in the Texas Legislature are responsible for protecting our citizens against crime, preserving our health-care and educational systems for Texans, and securing our economy. That is our duty.
Texas citizens can no longer afford to carry the burden that the federal government has imposed on us through its reluctance to enforce our existing border policies and laws. With more than 1,200 miles of international border, Texas now must take a strong, proactive role to secure it. Instead, other, smaller states are leading the charge, enacting tough immigration policies to combat this threat. Many county and state law-enforcement agencies nationwide are taking steps to police illegal immigration themselves. Meanwhile, Texas has done little to address this problem.
Our inaction is not a kindness to those who cross our borders illegally. In the last two-year reporting period, border agents have documented nearly 1,000 dead bodies found along the border. Our broken immigration policies hurt not only Texans and all Americans, but also those who cross the border illegally. Young girls are being raped by the human traffickers who bring them across the border. Men, women and children die in the desert or in the back of an 18-wheeler. America is better than this.
To reverse this tide, our first action must be to secure the border. Border agents will tell you that we can do the job - if we muster the manpower and political will.
The leadership of Texas should work with the Texas Adjutant General to dramatically increase the size of our Texas State Guard, which today numbers less than 1,500. Given the right opportunity, I believe many Texans would sign up for voluntary service. We also should embrace the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and not dismiss it; its members have worked well with the Border Patrol to date. I believe the Texas National Guard should increase its commitment to the border by developing training facilities near the border and moving summer training and monthly drills to the border region to further enhance the Guard’s presence.
Finally, I would increase aid to local sheriffs along the border who stand on the front lines of this struggle every day. The combination of a larger commitment of both the Texas State and National guards, increased support for local law enforcement, and the use of the Minutemen would give us a strong presence on the border. Clearly, Texans can do the job ourselves - if we have strong leadership from Austin.
After the border is secure, we can increase our legal immigration quotas to bring in the workers we need. These workers must be registered and employed in advance. Their employers, in turn, must provide a minimum level of health insurance and educational opportunities.
In our schools, we must end both bilingual and dual-language instruction. We do not make allowances for the thousands of non-English-speaking students who come here from other parts of the world. For centuries, students have learned English - and learned it well - through simple language immersion.
We also must ensure that all who come here legally do so while respecting our flag and, most importantly, understanding our laws. Those who have come here illegally and are now in jail for criminal violations should be deported immediately. Although the vast majority of people who come here illegally are seeking a better way of life, an increasing number are hardened criminals, drug smugglers and gang members.
Teddy Roosevelt said almost 100 years ago that immigrants were welcome if they spoke English and were loyal to our flag. That should hold true today. President Roosevelt demonstrated the kind of leadership that is desperately needed today in the State of Texas. As he once said, "The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.”
Very soon, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will announce his interim charges to the Texas Senate. These charges will specify his policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session and dictate the future work load of the Senate committees. I have asked him to create a select committee of senators to review the security of our southern border and develop measures to mitigate the growing flow of illegal immigration.
I can only hope that, when the 81st legislative session opens in 2009, those of us serving in the Texas Legislature will have the courage to fight for the changes that are so badly needed in our immigration policies and laws. The interests of every Texan - and the destiny of our nation - are at stake.
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