For Immediate Release:
June 15, 2012
COMMISSIONER STAPLES’ STATEMENT ON OBAMA ADMINISTRATION GRANTING WORK PERMITS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
AUSTIN—The Obama administration today announced the government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples issued the following statement:
“Pandering is not leadership. This short-sighted, vote-chasing, Band-Aid policy only makes the problem of a porous border and illegal immigration worse, not better. President Obama is chasing votes at the peril of our economy.
“This fragmented policy differs drastically from the approach just adopted by the agriculture leaders from 15 southern states and would work to increase illegal entry instead of reversing this dangerous trend. This is an affront to the millions of people who immigrated to America legally.
“At a time when we have an estimated minimum of 11 million people here illegally, this piecemeal approach to immigration reform is a green light from our president that it is acceptable to flaunt our laws and disregard our borders. This is a completely irresponsible approach and shows a total lack of understanding of the critical nature of these failed policies.
“The president is circumventing Congress and the legislative process set up by our Founding Fathers. Congress or the courts should step up and stop this fraudulent manipulation of our immigration system.”
For more information on the president's plan, click here.
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A group of Texas government and law enforcement officials announced Monday the results of a security assessment of the border region, which they say drug cartels are trying to bring under their control.
The results were announced by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples along with its authors retired four-star Army General Barry McCaffrey and retired Army Major-General Robert Scales as they were surrounded by concerned border ranchers, farmers and law enforcement.
At the press conference, officials said the bottom line was that Mexican drug cartels were seeking to create what they called a "sanitary zone" of about one county deep. They want to escape increasing confrontation with Mexican law enforcement and at the same time turn the border counties into transshipment points to the rest of the U.S.
Come 2014, we'll have a race for lieutenant governor that's shaping up as a battle of three heavyweight GOP statewide officeholders: Comptroller Susan Combs, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. We asked which of these three was likely to win, or whether another Republican — perhaps the interim? — has a shot. By a wide margin, our insiders think Staples has the edge; he was the choice of 48.2 percent of respondents, while Patterson took 24.1 percent. "Someone else" was the preference of 20.5 percent. Combs lagged behind with 6.3 percent, and "Don't Know" had 1.8 percent.
...But that race will have some already established statewide faces. Comptroller Susan Combs – who expressed her interest months ago – will have a tough time, as data breaches and accounting woes have plagued her office lately. Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples looks to be leading the choices, with Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson considering a run right behind him.
PALESTINE — Criticizing the policies of the Obama Administration and touting individual responsibility over big government, State Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples returned home for Thursday night’s “Stars and Stripes Barbecue” hosted by the Anderson County Republicans.
Ryan calls Staples “The top prospect for the Texas Republican Party in 2014”
AUSTIN, TX – With Texas legend Nolan Ryan as his Statewide Campaign Chairman, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples today formally announced the formation of a 2014 Lieutenant Governor Exploratory Committee.
“Todd Staples is the top prospect for the Texas Republican Party in 2014,” said Ryan. “I am confident Todd is the right person to lead Texas as our next Lieutenant Governor. He’s a clutch conservative leader who bats right and who will throw out government intrusion.”
As Commissioner of Agriculture, Staples has championed private property owner rights including passage of a 2009 state constitutional amendment protecting homeowners and landowners from eminent domain abuses. He also created an online website petition - www.protectyourhomeandland.com - to promote passage of SB 18, eminent domain reform, during the current Texas legislature. To date over 7,000 Texans have signed the petition.
Staples has also challenged the Obama Administration to allocate adequate resources to secure the Texas border from the life-threatening dangers from drug dealers and human smugglers crossing Texas soil. While federal leaders repeatedly deny the threat and daily violence, Staples is documenting the dangers Texas farmers and ranchers face along the border.
At 47, Staples is one of Texas’ youngest statewide Republican leaders. He is a former businessman and rancher from Palestine, Texas. In addition to his current post as Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, Staples has served as Mayor Pro Tem of his local city council, as a State Representative and as a Texas State Senator.
Rated one of Texas’ top conservatives during his service in the Texas legislature, Staples also sponsored and helped pass a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman. The amendment passed with 81% voter approval. He has also been endorsed in past elections by prominent pro-life groups including Texas Right to Life and Texas Alliance for Life.
Staples said his commitment as Lt. Governor will focus on Texas families and will include securing the border, improving the economy by promoting new job creation, protecting individual rights and states’ rights from federal government intrusion, protecting homeowner/property owner/gun owner rights, defending pro-life and pro-family values, improving public education, transportation, and replacing Obama-care with a healthcare reform right for Texas.
“I’m launching an exploratory committee for Lt. Governor of Texas because I have a proven record of commitment to smaller, efficient and accountable government,” said Staples. “I want to ensure that we protect families and jobs as we maintain a favorable business climate where all Texans have the opportunity to succeed.”
Staples is a graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He and his wife, Janet, have four children and three grandchildren.