Archive for December, 2014
Judge Declines to Lift Stay on Texas Gay Marriage Ban
Dec 12th - 2:04 pm
The ban on gay marriage in Texas will remain in place for now after a judge’s ruling Friday.
Despite ruling that the ban is unconstitutional earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia of San Antonio declined a request to lift the stay on his ruling, effectively continuing enforcement of the ban.
When Judge Garcia ruled in February that Texas’ same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional, he also issued a stay on that ruling pending the state’s appeal. The plaintiffs in the case asked Garcia to lift that stay last month, but Garcia officially declined that request on Friday.
Garcia wrote in his ruling, “Such action would only be temporary, with confusion and doubt to follow. The day for finality and legal certainty in the long and difficult journey for equality is closer than ever before.”
The case will go before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals next month, along with other same-sex marriage cases from Mississippi and Louisiana.
Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Steps Down
Dec 12th - 1:11 pm
Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Will Hailer
The Texas Democratic Party has announced Executive Director Will Hailer is stepping down at the end of the year.
Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa made the announcement in a press release Friday, marking the end of Hailer’s nearly two-year tenure in the position. Hailer is joining the public affairs firm BerlinRosen in Arlington, Virginia as its new vice president of the Campaign and Creative Services Division. BerlinRosen specializes in “strategic communications, public affairs, campaign consulting and creative services to leading companies, non-profit organizations, philanthropies, progressive political candidates and labor unions.” Party officials say Hailer will assist in the transition as they conduct a nationwide search for a new Executive Director. Hailer released the following statement:
“It has been a pleasure for me to work with some of the most devoted and hardworking Democrats Texas has to offer. This year we built an outstanding organization on the idea that Democratic values are Texas values. We accomplished more than anyone thought was possible thanks to the Texas Democratic Party staffers who worked across the state with candidates, partner organizations, party leaders, elected officials, donors and volunteers.”
Perry orders state agencies to use E-Verify
Dec 3rd - 3:06 pm
Governor Rick Perry has reversed his stance on E-Verify.
He’s now ordering state agencies to use the system to make sure those applying for state jobs or working for contractors are in the country legally. Four years ago, Perry criticized the federal E-Verify system, saying it “would not make a ‘hill of beans’ difference when it comes to what’s happening in America.”
At a Wednesday news conference, the governor said the system has been improved. Under E-Verify, employers can enter in names and Social Security numbers of new hires. That will let them know whether they are citizens or have proper visas for employment.
At the news conference, Perry also took time to blast President Obama’s executive order on immigration. He says it will trigger a new flood of people illegally entering Texas from Mexico.
Abbott takes legal action against Obama’s immigration order
Dec 3rd - 2:56 pm
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced legal action Wednesday challenging President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Southern District of Texas, is part of a 17-state coalition.
Abbott, the governor-elect, issued the following statement:
“The President’s unilateral executive action tramples the U.S. Constitution’s Take Care Clause and federal law. The Constitution’s Take Care Clause limits the President’s power and ensures that he will faithfully execute Congress’s laws – not rewrite them under the guise of ‘prosecutorial discretion.’ The Department of Homeland Security’s directive was issued without following the Administrative Procedure Act’s rulemaking guidelines and is nothing but an unlawfully adopted legislative rule: an executive decree that requires federal agencies to award legal benefits to individuals whose conduct contradicts the priorities of Congress.”
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