Hunter Bonner/Contributing Writer
It is hard to believe that 2023 is just days away from fading into the history books. As we look back on this past year, Republicans should take comfort that this was a year of political victories in Texas, and also at home in Marion County.
The Biden Administration has shown clearly that it does not care about the situation on the southern border. This has forced Governor Abbott to take those illegal immigrants, and bus them to other cities in the nation that are “sanctuary cities.”
While this program did start last year, it continued this year and raised national attention to the unsustainable situation of illegal immigrants flooding in from Mexico. This even saw some Democratic leaders in those cities agree with Republicans that something must be done to stop the flow of illegals into the country, which is a national security concern, economic concern, and humanitarian crisis.
Second, Senate Bill 3 provides additional funding to erect barriers along the Rio Grande and other areas of the southern border of Texas, to deter people from entering the country illegally. Senate Bill 4 passed in the regular session creates a state crime for illegally crossing the border from Mexico — a new law that is likely to force a legal showdown with the federal government.
Another Senate Bill 4, passed in the third special session, increases the minimum sentence from two years to 10 years for smuggling immigrants or operating a stash house. This addresses the terrible criminal activity of human trafficking, in which many victims are unaccompanied children.
There was also legislation that positively affects us closer to home. In the regular session, Senate Bill 22 (SB22), which provides grants for rural law enforcement and also for rural county attorney offices and constables, passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature unanimously. This was Republican led legislation that brought in bipartisan support with several Democrat authors and co-authors.
Just this past week, the Marion County Commissioner’s Court passed a resolution creating a position for an investigator in the County Attorney’s office. The funding for this will come from grants from SB22, which dollar amounts are determined by population.
According to the US Census Bureau estimate, Marion County has approximately 9,500 residents. Marion County qualifies for $100,000 for the county attorney’s office. The Sheriff’s Department qualifies for $250,000. All of this takes effect on January 1, 2024.
The Marion County Republican Assembly, a Republican club that meets monthly, worked with Marion County Sheriff, David Capps, to see this legislation through. This involved calls to our State Representative Jay Dean and State Senator Bryan Hughes, other rural Sheriff Departments throughout the state, as well as other legislators of those committees that had hearings over this legislation.
Proposition 8, regarding Rural Broadband, was a hot item in this year’s Legislative Session. Broadband in Marion County is not widespread by any stretch of imagination, and in many areas, the internet of any kind is unavailable. Marion County voters passed this by nearly 70%, recognizing the necessity of broadband for business development. Also, our children’s education, which is heavily technology reliant, will benefit from expanded rural broadband.
There is not enough space to mention the other Republican victories on taxes as well as protecting children from genital mutilation, and pornographic books in our schools and libraries. While these victories are certainly something for Marion County residents, and Texas Republicans in general to celebrate, there is always more work to be done. The special sessions regarding school choice and other items prove this.
Many thanks to Marion County Republicans for stepping up and making your voice heard with our legislators in phone calls and emails, as well as at the ballot box. Our government works best when “We the people” are actively involved.
Hunter Bonner is the President of the Marion County Republican Assembly, and a lifelong Republican activist. He can be reached via email at hunterbonner@outlook.com and on X (Formerly Twitter) @HunterBonner. His views are his own.