HOUSTON — A rally is scheduled in Austin Sunday against controversial Senate Bill 147.

Among other things, the Bill Prohibits Legal residents of certain countries from buying property. Critics said it would unfairly affect tens of thousands of legitimate residents of the Lone Star State.

Step into the Spicy Girl restaurant in downtown Houston and the kitchen will be busy slicing, roasting and making good food. For owner Jo Jo Wang, it’s a daily job.

“I have five restaurants now. They’re all right,” she said.

What does “OK” mean? Wang said her total income is more than $5 million a year and she employs more than 70 people. Everything should be fine, but Senate Bill 147 pisses her off.

“I can’t even sleep all week after I found out about the bill,” Wang said.

The measure, designed by Republican Senator Lois Colkhorst of Brenham, includes a ban on citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from buying property in Texas.

including Wang. She emigrated from China almost 30 years ago, attended high school in the US and has a green card.

“If I can’t buy a house, it’s not fair. We work hard, like other nations,” she said.

Wang said she kept her Chinese citizenship to make it easier to visit family and avoid a backlash from the communist government.

“If this bill passes, what do you think it will say about this country?” Shern-Ming Chou from KHOU 11 asked her.

“The whole world will see it. This is not about Texas. This is America. They put the personal preferences of politicians above the law. It’s just a couple of people who think like that,” Wang replied.

Colkhorst was unavailable for an interview and sent a statement to KHOU 11 saying the bill would eventually clarify that it does not apply to lawful permanent residents. However, its staff acknowledged over the phone that the bill as it stands makes no such distinction.

Wang said she thinks Chinese need to speak openly, despite the fact that they are often culturally quiet.

“Take whatever you give us, we will survive. I hope this is not the beginning,” she said.

She switched to her native Mandarin, saying she was worried if SB 147 was passed it would result in a ban on owning a business, going to college and eventually even getting a job for Chinese green card holders.

So this Spicy Girl is on fire and ready to go.