TYROCH WAFFLES ON IMMIGRATION REFORM
Candidate says successful program ‘is bad policy’
 
HARKER HEIGHTS, TEXAS (February 7, 2008) – During a forum held by the Bell County Young Republicans, Martha Tyroch, a candidate for State Representative, announced her opposition to meaningful immigration reform.  Tyroch spoke out against the Oklahoma Citizens and Taxpayer Act (HB 1804) which took effect on November 1, 2007.    Tyroch said the legislation had been bad for business, causing a loss of jobs and was something that she would not support if elected.
 
The Oklahoma Citizens and Taxpayer Act is one of the toughest immigration enforcement measures in the nation.  The legislation ended public assistance to illegals, cracked down on identity theft, allowed state and local authorities to enforce federal immigration laws, and prosecutes employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. 
 
Tyroch’s opponent, Mike Pearce, said, “The problem of illegal immigration is a major issue facing central Texans, and it cannot be solved with sound bites and empty rhetoric.  Our citizens demand that this matter be addressed with resilience.  It is obvious that Martha Tyroch cannot and will not solve this problem.  The voters of District 55 obviously need to look elsewhere for leadership.” Speaking specifically of the Young Republicans forum, Pearce added, “I found it astounding that Mrs. Tyroch could in one breath cite border security as her number one priority, yet in the next breath suggest that the single most successful immigration reform bill passed in the nation was something she could not support. The Oklahoma Legislature should be commended and Texas should follow their lead.”
 
Pearce’s campaign has generated backing from a broad base of supporters and Republican leaders including endorsements from State Board of Education members Terri Leo, Ken Mercer, and Gail Lowe. He has also received endorsements from Texas Eagle Forum PAC, Empower Texans PAC, Peggy Venable (State Director of Americans for Prosperity), and the Young Conservatives of Texas. 
 
Mike Pearce, a former U.S. Marine, taught in Bell County public schools for 10 years and received exemplary reviews for his innovative teaching methods from students, parents and administrators. Pearce recently founded an educational company that sells a technology based curriculum to teachers in 29 states and two US territories. Mike has been married to his high school sweetheart, Melanie, for over 17 years and they are the proud parents of 6 wonderful children: Arianna, Alexandra, Evan, Reganne, Jillian and Laura.

 
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