December 11, 2014 2:16 PM

Adams: Gov. Perry follows in Obama's footsteps with an immigration executive order of his own

Longtime GOP stalwart Norman Adams raises real world concerns of Texas business owners following Perry’s executive order on E-Verify

When President Obama could not get what he wanted from Congress on immigration, he simply issued an executive order that outraged many of my fellow Republicans. It seems Governor Rick Perry is following President Obama’s example.

The Legislature has on multiple occasions rejected mandatory E-Verify, a federal electronic system used to weed out foreign workers who are in the country without proper documents. Now Perry’s made an end run around them and mandated it on his own through an executive order. On December 3, Perry issued Executive Order RP80 requiring Texas State Agencies and private entities seeking state contracts to use E-verify, not only on new hires, but on current and prospective employees, including subcontractors.

Attorney General Greg Abbott is suing President Obama over his immigration executive order, so you have to wonder whether he will now sue Perry for bypassing the Texas Legislature.

In 2011, the 82nd Texas Legislature defeated mandatory E-verify. They recognized that immigration reform at the national level must come first. Attempts to pass E-verify legislation in a special session were also unsuccessful. The 83rd Texas Legislature likewise refused to impose mandatory E-verify on Texas businesses.

Why did Texas lawmakers refuse to adopt mandatory E-verify? Here just are a few reasons....

The complete column from Norman Adams can be found in the R&D Department.

By Norman Adams