Local Lawmakers React to President Obama's Announcement of Executive Amnesty

Two lawmakers representing districts containing San Angelo have reacted to President Obama's Thursday evening speech. In the speech, Obama announced he was ordering the executive branch to cease enforcing some portions of the current federal immigration laws. Opponents of the move have labeled Obama's move as "executive amnesty."

U.S. Congressman Conaway:

“After the election, President Obama said he wanted to work with Republicans to do what is in the country’s best interest.  With today’s decision, he is picking a fight with my fellow Republicans and me and pushing a policy that is not in America’s best interest.  If the American public had wanted him to do this, they would have voted differently earlier this month.  He told the American public, ‘I am not on the ballot this fall…. But make no mistake: These policies are on the ballot. Every single one of them.’  The American public then sent an equally clear message to him with their votes that they opposed this policy.  Furthermore, when asked directly if he would act unilaterally, he has said 22 times that he does not have the authority to do this.  Twenty-two times.

“My fellow Republicans and I are not foolish enough to take his bait.  We're going to stand opposed to these actions. We're going to do what's best for our country.  Furthermore, I fully support Governor-Elect Greg Abbott’s plan to sue President Obama on behalf of the State of Texas.”

Texas Senator Charles Perry said:

Tonight, law abiding citizens will be relegated to a 2nd class status with a mere stroke of the pen. President Obama is willing to violate the very fabric of our constitutional law in order to give legal status to citizens of other countries who have have willingly and deliberately violated the laws of this nation.

Voters should choose their leaders, leaders shouldn't choose their voters.

Thousands of individuals and families have obeyed the law and waited lawfully for their citizenship applications to be processed and accepted. This move is not only unfair to those individuals, but it encourages people to enter in our country through the backdoor and not through legitimate means.

As our Governor Perry stated earlier today: "There already is a path to citizenship in this country...it doesn't need to be changed."

The effects will be immediate and irreversible. We spend roughly $6,500 on Medicaid and $1,500 on food stamps per individual in Texas each year (2011 numbers). Every child we add to our education system costs roughly $12,500 per year. Our funding for these programs and others are already stretched thin, infusing more people into the system will only exasperate the problem.

Even if the President denies these individuals eligibility to Medicaid and Welfare, we cannot inquire about immigration status in regards to public education or admittance in the emergency room.

As we increase the magnet through amnesty, there is no doubt in my mind we will see a huge surge as millions more illegally cross our border over the next few months.

It is imperative that the Congress and the Judiciary call this for what it is - an act of tyranny - it threatens the economic and social stability for the poorest of the poor and burdens the states with unsustainable costs, if not insurmountable.

I pray for our elected officials to stand up and fight for our rights as law abiding citizens as a nation. Our federal representatives need to draw a line in the sand and refuse to fund the items in this executive order.