Illegal Immigration Laws and Billionaire School PACs

Who's in charge here?  ͏  ͏  ͏ [expressnews.com]( [View in Browser]( [Tomlinson's Take]( November 16, 2023 Your free trial of this exclusive newsletter ends today. For continued access to award-winning commentary on politics, money and life in Texas, [get unlimited digital access: 6 months for only 99¢](.   --------------------------------------------------------------- [Immigration Laws Break Bad]( State Sen. Bryan Birdwell takes his oaths to support and defend the Constitution seriously. Sadly, his Republican colleagues in the Texas Senate do not. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took Birdwell off the immigration beat because the retired Army officer refused to write [legislation that makes unauthorized entry into the United States a state law misdemeanor]( and allows local law enforcement and judges to deport people. Patrick found a willing accomplice in state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock. But Birdwell did not sit idly by as [the clearly unconstitutional bill]( moved through the Senate. He demonstrated what [the Army calls moral courage](, a readiness to stand up for what’s right even in the face of peer pressure. “We are setting a terrible precedent for the future by invalidating our obedience and faithfulness to our Constitution,” Birdwell said. Even though he believes President Joe Biden is not obeying his oath, the Republican from Granbury said politics do not give Texans permission to violate the law. Birdwell correctly explained that the U.S. Constitution, judicial precedent and federal law [give responsibility for border and immigration issues to federal authorities](. States are expressly forbidden from getting involved unless cooperating with federal agents. Immigration, though, is catnip to conservative politicians. Polling shows that [Republican primary voters get fired]( up at the idea of swarthy criminals bringing contraband into our nation and undermining democracy. Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott [use immigration to rally their supporters]( and raise money. They will [waste billions on border actions that accomplish nothing]( so that they can claim to have done something. The border crisis is [more a humanitarian disaster]( than a criminal incursion. Most immigrants are desperate people fleeing horrible circumstances to protect their children. But demonstrating compassion does not win elections the way sowing fear does. Perhaps that is why GOP politicians have sabotaged every effort to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including [proposals from Republican leaders](. A system that opens the door to workers we need and legitimate asylum seekers would take away a vital wedge issue. I admire Birdwell’s commitment to his oaths as a military officer and a lawmaker, and I wish other conservative leaders would follow his example. But what we need more is a bipartisan constitutional solution to our immigration problems, not more political posturing.   [Photo of Chris Tomlinson] Chris Tomlinson, Business Columnist   --------------------------------------------------------------- What Else I'm Writing [Dr. Peter Hotez at his Baylor office in Houston on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021.]( [Dr. Peter Hotez calls for help defending science]( Vaccine scientist Peter Hotez's new book "The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science" calls on the public to fight disinformation and save lives.   [Voters make their way in and out of the Theodore R. Johns Library on election day, Nov. 7, 2023.]( [Rejoice for tax cuts, worry for schools]( State revenue from oil and gas made school tax cuts possible, but a bust could hurt students for years.   --------------------------------------------------------------- What I'm Reading Must Read: [Texas Republicans say GOP chairman has 'weaponized' the party as internal strife continues]( (Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News) Should Read: [U.S. Army overturns convictions of 110 Black soldiers in 1917 Houston riot at Camp Logan]( (Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News) Interesting Read: [What It Means to Be a Texan Is Changing in Surprising Ways]( All those people moving to Texas? They’re as likely to be Black, Hispanic or Asian as they are to be White. (Brookings) Technical Read: [Understanding the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism]( The first tax in the world to address carbon emissions embedded in imports. (Hinrich Institute) Fun Read: [How Fort Worth became the epicenter of haute cowboy fashion]( Cowtown has a Fashion Week. (Texas Monthly)   --------------------------------------------------------------- Question of the Week Should people fleeing hunger or crime receive the same opportunity for asylum as someone fleeing war? Reply directly to this email and tell me your thoughts.   --------------------------------------------------------------- Mailbag Last Week’s Question: Prop 13 asked voters to extend mandatory retirement to 80 from 75 for Texas judges. How did you vote and why? “I voted no on an increase in retirement age. Indeed, it’s time for the next generation to take the reins of leadership and for boomers, my contemporaries, to step aside. It’s not that many elderly people aren’t perfectly capable of governing; it’s that lifetime routines and ways of thinking become more difficult to deviate from. If those routines fit the task at hand, it works, and President Biden is a perfect example. I admire and respect his skill and commitment to democracy and the re-establishment of the middle class. But, c’mon man.” – Albert Marten, San Antonio “I voted yes because I am 89 and am thinking clearly with no problems. I speak clearly and read the NYT and Chronicle every day. I participate in several discussion groups and host a monthly Zoom discussion group.” – Jimmy Dunne, Houston “I voted NO on raising the mandatory retirement age for judges. Why? ‘The graveyards are full of indispensable men,’ Charles de Gaulle.” – Michael Mashoney, The Woodlands “I voted for it. The Chronicle had a big say in it. And it would be hard to support President Biden, which I do, and not agree we need judges with experience who are willing to serve.” – Linda Holter, Magnolia   --------------------------------------------------------------- The Takeaway The first step in dismantling terrorist organizations or criminal cartels is understanding their hierarchy and structure. The same is true for understanding how billionaires influence our politics. The Texas Observer has published [a new investigation into how billionaires and ideologues are taking over public school boards](. Reporter Steve Monacelli, using the same kind of relationship-mapping software used by law enforcement, visualized the web of people and organizations trying to influence local school board elections covertly. The Observer identified 20 political action committees formed since late 2020 that collectively spent more than $1.5 million to support 105 conservative candidates in 35 districts. The donations changed the dynamics of historically low-cost campaigns, and 62% of the newcomers won. The most prominent financiers include Republican megadonor Monty Bennet, Houston-based homebuilder Richard Weekley and Dallas real estate mogul Harlan Crow, recently in the news for [his generous giving to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas](. Monacelli does a great job of connecting the dots, but campaign finance laws make his work extremely difficult. The sheer number of PACs and layers of obfuscation keep the public from readily seeing how a handful of Texas’s wealthiest men decide what millions of public school children learn.   --------------------------------------------------------------- Share With Your Friends Do you know someone who would like Tomlinson's Take? 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