Texas immigration bill is real tough...

[min0 lee]

......unless of you're a maid, a lawn caretaker or another houseworker.

(CNN) -- Amid a number of bills filed in Texas that address the issue of illegal immigration, one, proposed by Republican state Rep. Debbie Riddle, stands out.
As proposed, House Bill 2012 would create tough state punishments for those who "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly" hire an unauthorized immigrant. Violators could face up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
But it is an exception included in the bill that is drawing attention. Those who hire unauthorized immigrants would be in violation of the law -- unless they are hiring a maid, a lawn caretaker or another houseworker.
It is a tough immigration bill with a soft side that protects those who hire unauthorized immigrants "for the purpose of obtaining labor or other work to be performed exclusively or primarily at a single-family residence."
Texas state Rep. Aaron Pena, a Republican, said the exception is a wise one.
"With things as they are today, her bill will see a large segment of the Texas population in prison" if it passes without the exception, he said.
"When it comes to household employees or yard workers it is extremely common for Texans to hire people who are likely undocumented workers," Pena said. "It is so common it is overlooked."
The bills and other illegal immigration-related bills filed by Riddle and others reflect an increased pressure from constituents for action on the issue, Pena said. Because the federal government isn't doing its job, residents press state officials to act, he said.
Leo Berman, a Republican state representative, agreed that there was a stronger voice from Texas voters on the issue. "Absolutely," he said.
The Texas legislature convenes only once every two years, so Texas has not passed tough anti-illegal immigration laws like some other states. The result has been that unauthorized immigrants in those states are relocating to Texas, Berman said.
Berman himself has filed a number of immigrant-related bills this legislative session. One would make English the official language of Texas, a move that would save millions in printing costs, he said. The law wouldn't affect schools or ballots, he added.
Another bill would place an 8% surcharge on all money wired from Texas to Latin America. About $480 million could be collected from money sent to Mexico alone, the representative said. The proceeds would be earmarked for state hospitals.
A third bill would require police officers to ask every person they stop what their citizenship status is.
Amid all of these tough proposals, why the large exception to Riddle's bill on hiring unauthorized workers?
Riddle did not return repeated calls for comment. Her office said she would not comment on the bill because it could still be modified.
In a interview with the Texas Tribune, Riddle's chief of staff, Jon English, explained that the exception was to avoid "stifling the economic engine" in Texas.
"It is an admittedly clumsy first attempt to say, 'We are really focusing on the big businesses,'" English said. Texans shouldn't be punished for hiring lawn care companies who hire unauthorized immigrants, he said, according to the Texas Tribune's website.

 

[min0 lee]

Awww..who am I kidding, I just hired an Ecuadorians to do my roofing and plaster work.

 

[Big Pimpin]

State Farm put a $15,000 roof on my house in 2009. I was pissed when a truckload of illegals showed up but there was nothing I could really do at that point. That said, those illegals stripped and shingled a 49 square 9/12 roof with multiple angles in 2 days flat and took only a 1/2hr lunch each day.

I still say send them all back and wait in line like everyone else.

 

[min0 lee]

They are desperate for work and do work hard...but once they become American that's all out the window.

I only hired them due to the time frame and my lack of roofing skills, the sheet rock and plastering is simple but I am slow. These guys tarred where it was leaking in the roof, did 3 ceilings, 3 walls and fixed 3 busted pipes in two days for $750.00

 

[LAM]

What a fucking joke I'm sure her book is more of the same bull shit..her book is called "Taking Back America"

 

[ROID]

I would do the same thing if I was in their shoes.

 

[DOMS]

If it doesn't involve a catapult, it's not good enough.

 

[ROID]

If it doesn't involve a catapult, it's not good enough.

might as well accept it. It's not going to change.

gotta adapt

 

[DOMS]

might as well accept it. It's not going to change.

gotta adapt

The best I've come up with so far is to move. I live in Idaho where it's 98% white and crime is nothing. In terms of security and neighborhoods, it's like the 50s.

Good stuff.

 

[ROID]

I wanna move somewhere in 2 years but I don't know where.

Out of the country appeals to me, I would make a lot more money.

probably be Scottsdale though

 

[Big Pimpin]

The county my business is located in the GA mtns has an old school sheriff and his deputies literally pull over every car load of Mexicans they see and lock their asses up if possible. Needless to say there's only a handful that live in this whole county.

 

[LAM]

The best I've come up with so far is to move. I live in Idaho where it's 98% white and crime is nothing. In terms of security and neighborhoods, it's like the 50s.

Good stuff.

sounds like the township that I grew up in outside of Philly..I think the only murder there was when of the Dupont's went postal and killed someone in the late 90's.

 

[DOMS]

sounds like the township that I grew up in outside of Philly..I think the only murder there was when of the Dupont's went postal and killed someone in the late 90's.

You know what, though? I miss LA. If it wasn't for my kids, I'd move there now. Idaho is a nice place, but it's not my home town.

However, my oldest is 14 and has never seen a gang member. And that makes it worth it to me.

 

[oufinny]

Immigration is a problem but you find some lazy ass American (race is not important) that will do the jobs immigrant laborers do? They won't, want proof, come to Houston and see all the lazy SOBs from NOLA that came after Katrina. All they do is drive up the crime rate. Should we give them amnesty, FUCK NO. Should they pay back taxes, fees, possibly be deported, yes. If I have to pay some freaking illegals healthcare, education and everything else I am getting screwed (and so is every American). It's called a BIG FENCE, put it on the border with machine guns on top. Canadian's don't want in so we got lucky on the northern border as it is so much longer, lol!

 

[persianprince23]

Immigration is a problem but you find some lazy ass American (race is not important) that will do the jobs immigrant laborers do? They won't, want proof, come to Houston and see all the lazy SOBs from NOLA that came after Katrina. All they do is drive up the crime rate. Should we give them amnesty, FUCK NO. Should they pay back taxes, fees, possibly be deported, yes. If I have to pay some freaking illegals healthcare, education and everything else I am getting screwed (and so is every American). It's called a BIG FENCE, put it on the border with machine guns on top. Canadian's don't want in so we got lucky on the northern border as it is so much longer, lol!

I agree ever since katrina and rita, all the mud ducks from lousiana came to houston drove up the crime rate, after they rebuilt there city most stuck around and flooded decent areas and parts of thesuberbs with section 8 housing. the mexicans work u drive by home depot or the taquria at 8 am they will run to your truck work hard for the day pay them cash and they are content now there area HUge number of mexican and south american gangs that should be extradited but thats a diff story

 

[LAM]

You know what, though? I miss LA. If it wasn't for my kids, I'd move there now. Idaho is a nice place, but it's not my home town.

However, my oldest is 14 and has never seen a gang member. And that makes it worth it to me.

we used to live in west philly when I was little. on a summer day in the summer of '75 about 100 gang members decided to rumble on our block, my dad moved us to the suburbs 6 weeks later to a town with one stop sign, a stop light and 2 cops..lol

growing up in small towns is awesome when your young but once you are grown they suck ass, imo.

 

[Dark Geared God]

 

[DOMS]

used to live in west philly...gang members decided to rumble...moved us

Holy crap! I just figured out who you are!

 

[oufinny]

Holy crap! I just figured out who you are!

Word!!! I thought the same things when I read that.

 

[LAM]

Holy crap! I just figured out who you are!

I actually would have went to the same high school and same class as wil smith if we had stayed in philly...lol @ overbrook