(TX) Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst proposes $60 million border-enforcement effort

[Redfairen]

Source: Austin American-Statesman

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced Wednesday that state leaders are looking to fund a $60 million a year “permanent surge” along the Texas-Mexico Border to try to shut down the continuing smuggling and crimes by drug cartels.

Such a step to ramp up what have been periodic enforcement initiatives would be unprecedented, massing additional state police personnel, aircraft, boats and other resources along the Rio Grande River on a continuing basis.

Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the permanent surge would not include use of the controversial “regulatory checkpoints,” which have drawn intense criticism in border areas for allegedly violating constitutional search-and-seizure protections — an assertion that state officials have denied.

“I’m committed to making this work,” Dewhurst said of the permanent-surge plan, noting he was confident it would “shut down the border” for illegal smuggling and trafficking activity. “Seven of eight major Mexican cartels are using Texas as a staging area for drugs, smuggling and human trafficking.”



Read more: http://m.statesman.com/news/news/dewhurst-push-on-to-find-60-million-for-permanent-/ncBmJ/

[hobbit709]

1. Didn't they try that in E. Germany?

[Xipe Totec]

2. Putting 4.5 Billion Dollars in annual trade at risk.

Republicans no longer satisfied with shooting themselves in the foot are going for a head shot.

Cross-border retail trade is crucial to border-city economies. Mexicans spend more than $4.5 billion annually on food, clothing, auto parts and other retail items in these cities, primarily El Paso, McAllen, Brownsville and Laredo, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas research shows. Geographic proximity, border-crossing cards that expedite movement, attractive prices and broad product selection are among the draws.

http://www.dallasfed.org/assets/documents/research/swe/2012/swe1204g.pdf

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Pure boondoggle wrapped in racism and chicken-fried with taxpayer gravy.

[Gothmog]

4. Dewhurst is scared of losing the GOP primary to some idiots

Ted Cruz was an unknown when he beat Dewhurst for the GOP nomination for Senate. Now, Dewhurst is being challenged for the GOP nomination for Lt. Governor by a group of idiots/tea party members such as Dan Patrick (not the sports announcer). Dewhurst is scared and may well lose the GOP primary to one of these idiots