Texas Democrats Come Together to Stand Against Bill SB 147

Texas Democrats recently came together to stand against bill SB 147. The bill states that citizens from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, are not allowed to purchase land or property in the United States of America.

Several Texas lawmakers have shown their disapproval of the bill, giving speeches on television and even holding a protest in the rain.

“Today, I joined State Representative Gene Wu (D), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D), and others to oppose SB 147,” tweeted Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D).

Rep. Gene Wu tweeted, “Back in Austin to speak against #SB147 and against discrimination against the Asian American community. We had a huge turnout on a rainy Sunday afternoon.”

“SB 147 is unconstitutional, it’s un-American, and it’s bad for business. I hope my colleagues will see the consequences of this bill and work with us to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to live the American dream,” tweeted Texas Representative Salman Bhojani (D).

 

“It’s just not a good bill,” said Mayor Turner. He elaborated, stating, “It discriminates against companies that are doing business. For example, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia. It discriminates against majority stockholders of companies in those respective countries. It discriminates against individuals, and, quite frankly, where does it stop? Now this country may have problems with the governments of those countries, but we shouldn’t extend our problems with the governments with individuals or with companies doing business coming from those respective countries.”

Turner concluded, saying, “It’s discriminatory in its practice. And, quite frankly, if this bill is allowed to move forward, the question is ‘Who’s next?’”

Following protests, Republican Senator Lois Kolkhorst stated she would change her bill to allow permanent residents or green card holders from the prohibited countries to buy land. 

In response to the bill, Rep. Wu stated that America welcomes “people from the entire world.” “We take the best and brightest, and we give them the opportunity that they would have never had in their home countries…We’ve had programs in the past that say ‘everything’s O.K., but we’re not selling to Mexicans, everything’s O.K., but we don’t sell to black people…but no Jews and definitely no Chinamen…If it’s a British company coming in, if it’s a French company coming in, I’m sure they have no problems. But when it talks about an Asian company or anywhere else, all of a sudden people get really uptight about it."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stated his intentions to sign the bill if it passes the House. However, the bill’s opposers are hard at work, trying to make sure that this bill never sees the light of day.