Texas Republican Files Birther Bill

A state representative on Tuesday filed a bill that would require any candidate for president or vice president of the United States to show his or her birth certificate to the Texas secretary of state, another indication of just how ambitious the conservative agenda for next year's session of the Texas Legislature is expected to be.

"This bill is necessary because we have a president whom the American people don't know whether he was born in Kenya or some other place," Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said in reference to President Barack Obama and of House Bill 295. "If you are running for president or vice president, you've got to show here in Texas that you were born in the United States and the birth certificate is your proof."

Berman's bill specifies that "the secretary of state may not certify the name of a candidate for president or vice-president unless the candidate has presented the original birth certificate indicating that the person is a natural-born United States citizen."

If the Legislature passes the proposed legislation and Gov. Rick Perry signs it into law, it would become effective on Sept. 1, 2011, six months before the state holds its 2012 presidential primaries.