State representatives file birth certificate bill filed for presidential candidates

[The_Dude 1,142]

State representatives file birth certificate bill filed for presidential candidates

AUSTIN — A state representative on Tuesday filed a bill that would require any candidate for president or vice president of the United States to show his or her birth certificate to the Texas secretary of state, another indication of just how ambitious the conservative agenda for next year’s session of the Texas Legislature is expected to be.

“This bill is necessary because we have a president whom the American people don’t know whether he was born in Kenya or some other place,” Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said in reference to President Barack Obama and of House Bill 295. “If you are running for president or vice president, you’ve got to show here in Texas that you were born in the United States and the birth certificate is your proof.”

Berman’s bill specifies that “the secretary of state may not certify the name of a candidate for president or vice-president unless the candidate has presented the original birth certificate indicating that the person is a natural-born United States citizen.”

If the Legislature passes the proposed legislation and Gov. Rick Perry signs it into law, it would become effective on Sept. 1, 2011, six months before the state holds its 2012 presidential primaries.

Berman’s proposal is similar to one introduced in the Arizona Legislature this year which prompted the Arizona Republic, the largest newspaper in that state, to write: “The legislation originated from a fringe group that believes President Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and therefore ineligible to be president.”

The so-called “birther movement,” which questions Obama’s citizenship, started during the 2008 presidential campaign and though most news organizations have reported that there is overwhelming evidence that the president was born in Hawaii in 1961, there is small percentage of the U.S. population which is not convinced.

Berman, who in previous sessions introduced legislation aimed at stopping illegal immigration in Texas, also filed bills that would make English the official language in the Lone Star State and crack down on illegal immigrants.

Another bill would impose an 8 percent fee on any amount of money wired to or sent by another electronic method to Mexico, Central American and South America — unless the sender shows proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residence.

These are bills that Berman has unsuccessfully filed in previous sessions.

In the 2007 session, for example, then Rep. David Swinford, R-Dumas, chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, single-handedly killed all of Berman’s bills on the advice of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Committee chairmen have the power to kill bills they consider harmful to the state. Swinford killed Berman’s bills because Abbott advised him that if the Legislature passed them, they would not survive court challenges and the state would spend millions of dollars on legal fees, like California did in the mid-1990s.

In 1994 California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 187, a ballot initiative that would have denied basic services like health care and education to illegal immigrants but it never became law because of successful court challenges.

Berman’s bills are the latest in a series of proposals aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration, making English the official language of the state, and requiring Texas voters to show identification before casting a ballot.

Last week, when the first day of pre-filing bills for the 82nd Legislature started, Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, filed legislation that would allow police to ask for proof of citizenship to anyone suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, like the recent Arizona law currently being challenged in court.

Rep. Jessica Farrar of Houston, leader of the House Democrats, has no doubt that Berman’s and Riddle’s bills will pass in the lower chamber because Republicans are expected to have a historic 99-51 majority.

But like other Democrats, Farrar doubts such bills will make it in the 31-member Senate because Democrats have 12 votes, barely enough to kill any legislation they oppose unless the chamber lifts its two-thirds rule which requires a two-thirds vote to bring any legislation to the Senate floor.

Berman said he is also aware that the fate of his bills is uncertain in the Senate and also in the House — unless the lower chamber elects a more conservative speaker.

Although he didn’t mention House Speaker Joe Straus by name, Berman said that if San Antonio Republican remains the chamber’s leader, his bills could be killed again.

“My bills will pass in the House if we have a conservative speaker,” said Berman, who supports Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, one of two challengers Straus is facing in his re-election bid.

Source

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So do you get appointed to the Texas state congress with a prize in a cracker jack box or something? This is serious stupidity at work.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The Birthers are on the move.

[^_^ 5,021]

The Birthers are on the move.

What's funny is that one of the 50 states - Hawai'i - is on the record officially confirming the birth of President Barack Obama in that state.

So what happens when his Hawai'ian birth certificate is submitted to Texas? Do they say "sorry, we don't recognize Hawai'i as part of the United States"?

I don't see how any state - not even Texas - can reasonably tell another state that we don't believe your birth certificate.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What's funny is that one of the 50 states - Hawai'i - is on the record officially confirming the birth of President Barack Obama in that state.

So what happens when his Hawai'ian birth certificate is submitted to Texas? Do they say "sorry, we don't recognize Hawai'i as part of the United States"?

I don't see how any state - not even Texas - can reasonably tell another state that we don't believe your birth certificate.

Yep....state's rights - the mantra of the Right.

[The_Dude 1,142]

What's funny is that one of the 50 states - Hawai'i - is on the record officially confirming the birth of President Barack Obama in that state.

So what happens when his Hawai'ian birth certificate is submitted to Texas? Do they say "sorry, we don't recognize Hawai'i as part of the United States"?

I don't see how any state - not even Texas - can reasonably tell another state that we don't believe your birth certificate.

They can't, as per the full faith and credit clause.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Like all states every state politician will try to introduce bills and and only a small percentage will even get out of committee yet alone get to the floor and debate. It does allow the politician to say back in their district that they tried

[The_Dude 1,142]

Like all states every state politician will try to introduce bills and and only a small percentage will even get out of committee yet alone get to the floor and debate. It does allow the politician to say back in their district that they tried

That he tried? Tried to do what? Embarass his state further? Tried to violate the full faith and credit clause of the constitution? Or just tried to look like a tard?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That he tried? Tried to do what? Embarass his state further? Tried to violate the full faith and credit clause of the constitution? Or just tried to look like a tard?

He tried to nail that Kenyan to the wall....that's what!

[The_Dude 1,142]

He tried to nail that Kenyan to the wall....that's what!

I understand what Luckytxn meant, but this just isn't it. This is the case of an ignorant state congressman trying to make a name for himself.

[luckytxn 2,265]

And if the nutjob Socialists would ignore him and freeze him out of the loop like the good GOP does in our own state then no one would have heard of him at all. He will as usual every year he and any others try to place bills in committee get nowhere. Every state has this happening. I am sure I could go into any state and find ridiculous bills that are placed in committee that would make it sound moronic. Now are you positive for sure that there is not one state politician that isn't placing any bills in committee and looking for sponsors in your very own state?

[Peikko 1,575]

Isn't this pointless with the move to ensure a birth certificate is not a guarantee of US citizenship? Talk about wasting tax payers money!

[Pooky 3,828]

But ...

That's POLITICS !!!

Edited November 20, 2010 by Pooky

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The Birthers are on the move.

Dems LOST!

What exactly is the problem? You have to show your birth certificate to file for a K-1 but a person running for President should not?