Cascos: Nod to Cornyn not a political favor

Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos' endorsement of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn isn't an attempt to get him to push through an amendment for a moratorium on the construction of the border fence.

Cascos endorsed the Republican senator this weekend, more than 10 days after he sent a letter to Republican senators Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison that sought a moratorium on the fence. However, Cascos said he didn't make the endorsement in exchange for a political favor.

"I don't play those games. I don't do a quid pro quo," Cascos said Tuesday, adding that the endorsement is more symbolic than anything else. "He did not ask me for an endorsement, I offered it to him."

Cornyn also received endorsements from other Rio Grande Valley leaders, including McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez and Steve Ahlenius, McAllen Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, The Associated Press reported.

Cornyn is being challenged by Democratic candidate State Rep. Rick Noreiga, D-Houston, in the November general election.

Cascos said Cornyn has always been receptive to concerns posed by Cameron County officials and been accessible to county leaders and willing to work with them.

Cornyn and Hutchison are among 80 Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders - including presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain - who voted in 2006 in favor of the Secure Fence Act, which mandated the fence's construction.

Earlier this month, the county judge sent letters to both senators that requested they draft an amendment to place a moratorium on the fence's construction in Cameron County.

In addition, he would like a 6- to 12-month extension on the Dec. 31 deadline in which the government hopes to have the fence completed. It's believed the fence's construction in Cameron County could start next month.

Cornyn told Cascos he would review the letter and that Hutchison's staff said the same. The county judge said if he doesn't receive more information from either senator by May 27, he will contact their offices again.

The county is undergoing contract negotiations with Dos Logistics Inc. of Donna to perform work on the county's levee enhancement project. County officials don't anticipate getting any schematics or cost estimates for another two to three weeks.

As DHS pushes to complete the fence by the end of the year, the county has to aggressively pursue the levee project.

DHS extended its deadlines for Hidalgo County, following that county's agreement to work with the federal government for construction of a concrete barrier that will serve as a border wall in some areas.

The agreement pushed back Hidalgo County's levee project completion date to March 2009 from December of this year.

Under the agreement, DHS will give Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 $65.7 million to construct the concrete barrier. The drainage district will have to fund the remaining cost, which is about $48.2 million.