Join in Call to Censure Leo

State Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler) exhibits an anti-immigrant fervor that few, if any, of his colleagues would dare match. During the 80th Legislature, Berman introduced a truly detestable bill, which called for the denial of state benefits—including instruction in public schools and state universities—to children born in Texas to parents who are illegal immigrants. Such children are, of course, U.S. citizens, and the proposed law clearly violated the U.S. Constitution. Berman’s bill never made it out of committee, but Berman hasn’t ended his battle.

This session, Berman introduced a bill that would require illegal immigrants to live in “sanctuary cities.” (The bill, by the way, would allow each municipality to decide whether it will be a sanctuary city. I’m guessing we could rule out Farmers Branch.) Last week, following a panel discussion about the idea, Berman got into a heated discussion with a Chinese-American immigration attorney from Dallas named Harry Joe.

At some point during the exchange, Berman told Joe to “go home.” Berman then told Joe he could “kiss my ass.” Given the context and Joe’s lineage, Berman, in my view, was clearly telling Joe to go back to China. Berman later unconvincingly claimed he simply meant go back to Dallas.

Now, Joe reportedly did call Berman “despicable” and “evil,” but he later apologized. (And really, who hasn’t been called “despicable” and “evil” by a Dallas lawyer?) But the unapologetic Berman did not behave in a manner befitting a state legislator.

In response to the Joe incident, several blogs and bloggers (including this one) and other Texans are calling on House members to censure Berman. Check out the newly launched website Censure Leo. You can learn more about Berman’s antics and sign a petition calling for censure.