The following is an actual signed Open Letter by the Texas State Senate Republican Caucus in response to Attacks by US Senate candidate Ted Cruz.
Texas State Senate Republican Caucus
Sen. Robert Nichols, Chair Open Letter to Texans For immediate release July 8, 2012 Contact: Steven Albright 512-589-2270
Dear Fellow Texans:
In the U.S. Senate primary race, statements have been made that are untrue regarding the records of Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, the Republican Texas Senators, as well as Governor Rick Perry. This letter is to set the record straight.
The Anti-Sanctuary Cities Bill
Many members of the Texas Senate and the Lt. Governor felt strongly about outlawing the practice of sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants. During the Regular Session, the Anti-Sanctuary Cities Bill was blocked by the Democrats through the use of a parliamentary procedure. The Lt. Governor asked Governor Perry to call a special session, removed the parliamentary block, and the bill then passed the Senate along party lines early in Special Session on June 14th. The bill was sent to the House early in the Special Session where it failed to move and died. We are confident that the Senate will again pass the bill in the upcoming 2013 Legislative Session.
Controlling & Cutting State Spending
Governor Perry, Lt. Governor Dewhurst and the Republican-led Texas Legislature have always been committed to balancing the state budget without raising taxes, and have repeatedly done so since 2003. Most recently, the state budget was balanced in 2011 by cutting $14 billion in overall spending. Budget watchdog groups have repeatedly praised Texas for being a low tax, low spending state and specifically for keeping state spending lower than the rate of population and inflation growth since 2003. To characterize the Texas record as one of reckless spending is simply untrue.
The TSA Anti-Groping Bill
The Senate Republicans and the Lt. Governor wanted to protect travelers from unwanted and unlawful intrusion, so Lt. Governor Dewhurst requested that Governor Perry add the TSA Anti-Groping Bill to the agenda for the Special Session. The Texas Senate passed S.B. 29, the TSA Anti-Groping Bill, with enough time remaining in the Special Session for the House to take up and pass the bill. The bill was a tougher version than that of the House, but ultimately died as a result of opposition on the House side.
State Income Tax, Wage Tax and Payroll Tax
We the undersigned, and the Lt. Governor, have always opposed a state income tax for Texas, as well as a wage or payroll tax. Newspaper fact checks clearly confirm this.
Texans deserve to know the truth in this important election.
Sen. Robert Nichols, Chairman
Sen. John Carona
Sen. Bob Deuell
Sen. Robert Duncan
Sen. Kevin Eltife
Sen. Craig Estes
Sen. Troy Fraser
Sen. Chris Harris
Sen. Glen Hegar
Sen. Joan Huffman
Sen. Mike Jackson
Sen. Jane Nelson
Sen. Steve Ogden
Sen. Dan Patrick
Sen. Kel Seliger
Sen. Florence Shapiro
Sen. Jeff Wentworth
Sen. Tommy Williams
you can see the singed letter in PDF filed here>
follow us on facebook and twitter
Leave a Reply