Who Controls Homeland Security?

The Bush administration's exploits in Washington are negatively affecting various state governments, and nowhere is this observed more clearly than in Texas, the President's self-proclaimed home state. Currently, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was re-elected by a mere 39 percent of total votes, is forging ahead with a power play, a la George Walker Bush, that will "shock and awe" most Texans. It will also endanger their civil rights and liberties.

HB 4108 is a bill authored by Rep. Richard Raymond as a counter to the demand made by Gov. Rick Perry to legislators for approval of HB 13, authored by Rep. David Swinford, which would give the governor additional powers regarding unprecedented access to intelligence and Homeland Security information. In addition, the bill would give Perry and future governors carte blanche in accessing any intelligence information without just cause, and also enables contracting private companies regarding state Homeland Security actions. Such actions enabled by HB 13 are detrimental to the rights and civil liberties of all Texas citizens and companies operating in the state.

In contrast, Rep. Raymond's more democratic-friendly bill, HB 4108, details that all state Homeland Security operations and support actions come under the direct authority of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. This bill is a more intelligent, practical and democratic solution, in that the power of gathering, reviewing and responding to intelligence information is made the responsibility of a state agency already authorized to provide the Texas community with safety and security operations and support.

The omnipotent power requested in HB 13 by the governor for only the governor is contrary to a representative democracy; rather, it is a bill that provides autocratic powers to one individual, and should not be a consideration anywhere within our American democratic representative government.

Voters should contact the House Committee on Law Enforcement and state representatives to help them get HB 4108 out of committee and on the House floor.

Residents of other states should be VERY concerned by what is happening in Texas, for this state has been the microcosm and testing ground for issues, legislation and actions for all others.