Jun

30

Senators Hutchison and CornynIn a vote of 53 to 49, the Senate rejected an attempt to find resolution to the immigration debacle facing them One can argue that this as a victory for the conservatives. However, a cursory look reveals that this is neither a Republican verses Democratic vote nor a conservative versus liberal vote. Rather, this vote appears to have something else behind it.

A majority of the newly elected (and self-proclaimed conservative) Democrats joined the aged long time liberal Robert Byrd (D-WV) and ultraliberal Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) to vote against cloture of debate on the immigration reform bill. Therefore, this was evidently not a mere rebellion on the part of the new Democrats against the liberal leadership of Majority Leader Harry Reid and his cohort, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Republicans were far more predictable about who was conservative and who was not so conservative. The string of notables who supported this reform package included Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl; South Carolina’s Lindsay Graham; and Senators Olivia Snowe, Arlen Specter, Chuck Hagel, and Richard Lugar. Most of the traditional conservatives of the Republican Party voted against the bill.

What was the basis for this phenomenal vote to stop a miscreant immigration reform? It appears it had little to do with partisan politics or ideology. Instead, it resulted from an overwhelming outcry from the voters back home. They jammed the Senate phone lines with an avalanche of screams from constituents vehemently opposed to this bill. Voters decried this bill as just another amnesty travesty that should not be foisted upon American citizens.

Here is the phenomenal part: some of the Senators listened! With legislators inundated on a daily basis with cries from every interest group over nearly every bill before them, they have become numb to the voices of their own constituents. The joy is that this time the voice of the people came through loud enough and with enough numbers to shock the majority into reality.

Trent Lott blamed Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity by suggesting that “talk radio is running America [and] we have to deal with that problem.” If talk radio motivated voters to make these phone calls, then I say that we need more talk radio! To Senator Lott I say:

Follow the example of your Mississippi colleague, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), who voted with the majority. It is time for you to go back to Mississippi and listen to your constituents!

I am happy to report that the two Texas Senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, have consistently voted with the majority and with the voice of Texas on this issue.

The voters of Texas need to stand behind our Senators and give them our support for their faithfulness to their constituents. Send them an email (information listed below). Calling them may be difficult because the phone lines likely remain backed up. However, if you can get through, call their offices (phone numbers listed below). Nevertheless, email is much more likely to get through. Therefore, email them a note expressing your appreciation for their support of Texans’ stand on a secure national border. Give credit where it is due. Support those who support their constituents.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
Email Form
Washington Office: 202-224-5922 (additional phone numbers)

Sen. John Cornyn
Email Form
Washington Office: 202-224-2934 (additional phone numbers)