Newly-empowered Texas Democrats wasted no time in filing bills to carry out another plank in their actual radical agenda, namely handing out welfare benefits for illegal aliens.
Legislation aimed at fulfilling Democrat Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa’s campaign promise to send $1,500 checks to Texas households contains no citizenship requirement, potentially allowing illegal aliens to qualify for the payments.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) filed Senate Bill 297, which would appropriate $17 billion from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund to provide one-time payments in response to what the legislation calls a statewide “household affordability emergency.”
Texas’ Economic Stabilization Fund, commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund, was established in 1988 to provide a financial reserve during economic downturns and other emergencies.
The fund is projected to reach $28.48 billion by the end of fiscal year 2027. Gutierrez’ proposed $17 billion expenditure would amount to nearly 60 percent of that projected balance.
Hinojosa campaigned on providing $1,500 relief checks from the fund. Gutierrez’ legislation would establish a program to distribute those payments.
Under the proposal, a qualifying household must have maintained its usual residence in Texas as of January 1, 2027, and be represented by an adult or emancipated minor.
The bill does not require recipients to be U.S. citizens or legally present in the country.
Applicants could establish residency using a lease, utility bill, school record, government correspondence, or even a sworn declaration.
The legislation also prohibits conditioning eligibility on income, employment, homeownership, property tax liability, or whether household members have filed income tax returns.
Former Governor Rick Perry once summarized the secret to Texas’ economic success as “Don’t spend all the money.” This proven strategy for success is one abhorrent to Democrats, who want to spend all the money, and then some, to line their own pockets and buy the loyalty of various welfare state clientele factions.
Fortunately for Texas taxpayers, like all disbursements from the Economic Stabilization Fund, “the $17 billion appropriation would require approval from two-thirds of the members present in each chamber of the Legislature.” Republicans still have a majority in the Texas Senate, and Democrats don’t have a two-thirds majority in the Texas House.
Any Republican stupid enough to vote for this proposal deserves to draw a primary challenge the same day.
“Fortunately for Texas taxpayers, like all disbursements from the Economic Stabilization Fund, ‘the $17 billion appropriation would require approval from two-thirds of the members present in each chamber of the Legislature.’ Republicans still have a majority in the Texas Senate, and Democrats don’t have a two-thirds majority in the Texas House.”
The News Headlines will read: Heartless Republicans Deny Relief to Needy Families
The time to protect capital formation was as it was occurring. Now the flood of new projects attracted to Texas will be a fixed target for expropriation.