Updated: Governor blames Senator for failure of Sanctuary cities measure

Gov. Rick Perry released the following statement on the failure of anti-sanctuary cities legislation:

“As the special session appears to be winding down, I am disappointed the Legislature did not address sanctuary cities. Working with legislative leaders last weekend, we worked to include sanctuary city legislation in Senate Bill 1. Unfortunately, SB1 Conference Committee Chairman Robert Duncan ultimately refused to allow language related to the ban of sanctuary cities into the final version of Senate Bill 1. Because of this action, the special session will not provide our peace officers with the discretion they need to adequately keep Texans safe from those that would do them harm.”

Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, responded with this:

"I am a joint author of SB 9, the sanctuary cities legislation that the Senate passed on June 15. This was comprehensive legislation that dealt with the issue of state and federal laws and prohibition of sanctuary cities. The primary purpose of SB 1 was to certify the budget and provide funding for our public schools.

"Combining school finance issues in SB 1 with sanctuary cities issues would have placed both of these important measures in jeopardy. My Senate colleagues on the SB 1 Conference Committee and member of the Senate Republican caucus were clear about their desire to keep these two issues separate. I agreed and held firm on this position."

I will blog more on this later. Stay tuned.

Comments

[Mrs. Ben Garcia]

Since Governor Perry seems to be so disappointed that Sanctuary Cities measure did not go his way, perhaps he should consider running for President of Mexico instead of President of the United States.

[Chingas Dominguez]

The most anti-Hispanic Governor in the history of Texas! Unfortunately for him, issues like this will keep him from being a viable candidate for President. Baboso.

[DM Brown]

It is VERY disappointing to see a Republican thwart the Sanctuary Cities Bill that is so vital to our State's safety and security. I would expect that if he lived in El Paso, where there are daily shoot outs, stash house busts and street chases related to the problems that illegal immigrants bring to the city, his opinion and actions would be different. Until there is ACTION by the Texas Legislature to curb the runaway sanctuary mentality that exists in such city councils, universities and populations at large as El Paso and UTEP, Texas should consider giving El Paso back to Mexico. I am disgusted with this failure to protect American Citizens.