Texas Governor Rick Perry has handed out the first assignments for lawmakers in the 2011 legislative session. In separate speeches before lawmakers in the House and Senate, Mr. Perry announced he was making the protection of private property rights and eminent domain along with abolishing sanctuary cities in Texas emergency items for the session.
Democrats quickly reacted to the emergency designations, especially abolishing sanctuary cities. Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) in a press release said the governor is ignoring what some consider a $27-billion dollar budget shortfall while pushing immigration.
"Once again, the Governor demonstrates that he is a masterful politician. Just when the public begins to learn that the state's financial crisis is worse than California's, he distracts us with a controversial issue that ultimately cannot be resolved by the state."
The emergency designation allows bills pertaining to those topics the ability to by-pass legislative rules and be debated and voted on sooner in the session.
