The Chicano Community: A view from the Texas Legislature
Armando Gutierrez interviews State Rep. Arnold Gonzales of Corpus Christi, member of the State Higher Education and Health and Welfare Committees of the Texas House. Dr. Arnold Gonzalez discusses his experience as a Texas State Representative, the bills he has introduced, and problems affecting the Chicano community. Gonzalez explains that it has been difficult working in the legislature, discusses some of bills he has introduced and cites a study which found that less 14% of the legislation they introduced actually passed. He explains the practice of compromising with Republican politicians in order to get Chicano bills passed and obtain good committee assignments. He also talks about his support for John Hill’s bid for Texas Governor and explains that although Hill is not liberal, he supports the kind of people-oriented legislation Gonzalez advocates.
Gonzalez then discusses his disappointment in the outcome of the Santos Rodriguez, where the Justice Department refused to review the case where a police officer murdered an 11-year old boy while he was in custody and for which he received only five years in prison and served only 18 months. He then expresses his support for the Carter Administration, but criticizes his efforts to remove the border patrol from INS control and out of the hands of Leonel Castillo. On the subject of immigration, he would like to see less undocumented workers cross into the U.S. because he believes they take jobs from Chicanos. He also discusses his efforts to facilitate Chicano access to higher education by creating a state program that guarantees student loans.
KEYWORDS
56th legislatureAffirmative Action
Allan Bakke
Baylor University
Ben T. Reyes
Benjamin Civiletti
Bill Clayton
Border Patrol
Burt Lance
Chicano Caucus
Chicano Movement
Chicano Politicians
Chicanos in Higher Education
Childcare
CIA
Competition between Undocumented Workers and Chicanos
Dallas, Texas
Darrell Cain
Dolph Briscoe
Don Yarborough
Education
Elections
Griffin Bell
Illegal Alien
Immigration and Naturalization Service
James “Pa” Ferguson
Jimmy Carter
John Hill
Jose Campos Torres
Larry Lozano
League of United Latin American Citizens
Leonel Castillo
Liberals
LULAC
Militarization of the border
Miriam “Ma” Ferguson
Police Brutality
Police murders
Political compromises
Political representation
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Ricardo Morales
Richard Nixon
Riots
Roy Arnold
Santos Rodriguez
Student loans
Tatcho Mindiola
Texas A & M
Texas Governor
Texas Politics
The Bakke Case
The University of Texas
U.S. Canada Border
U.S. Mexico Border
Undocumented immigrants
Welfare
William Colby