By R J Morales | TX3DNews
WYLIE — U.S. Rep. Keith Self, who represents Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, opened a packed town hall by outlining ongoing budget fights in Washington, saying the House had passed all 12 annual appropriations bills but cautioning that a key vote still loomed uncertain.
“We have a tough vote coming Monday night,” Self said. “I have no idea how this vote is going to go. I’ll be honest with you.”
Self described the passage of the spending package as a return to “somewhat of regular order,” but also noted he voted against several bills.
“The cost was really high, both in policy and in cost. There were lots and lots and lots of Senate earmarks in these bills,” he said.
He added the Senate is expected to return several measures bundled together under a procedural rule that will require a two-thirds majority for approval.
Immigration takes center stage
Questions quickly shifted to immigration and recent unrest tied to enforcement operations in Minnesota, a topic that resurfaced throughout the morning.
Self contrasted that situation with Texas.
“Texas, we have more than ten times the number of apprehensions and deportations that they do in Minnesota, and yet it’s totally calm here,” he said. “Our local and state police cooperate with ICE and Border Patrol. We don’t have a problem with it.”
He rejected suggestions that recent funding fights were about immigration enforcement itself.
“In the Big Beautiful Bill, we funded ICE,” he said. “They’ve got enough money for probably a couple years, maybe as many as three years.”
When asked about shootings and allegations of misconduct, Self said investigations were underway.
“In the Army, every time there is a disaster of any sort, we do an after-action report to figure out what went wrong,” he said. “Let’s let this play out and see what happens.”
Several exchanges grew sharper as attendees pressed him on civil liberties and detention conditions. Self said he had already contacted immigration authorities after hearing complaints about a Texas facility.
“I put in an inquiry yesterday to ICE,” he said, adding that detainees “should have heat” and “should be allowed to buy warm clothing.”
Fraud and funding leverage
A separate line of questions focused on fraud in federal programs.
“Now that they started peeling this onion, there is so much fraud and so many areas and so many states,” Self said. “Minnesota is simply the tip of the iceberg.”
He said Congress has limited direct enforcement power but argued the administration could cut funding.
“I think the immediate way we can take care of this is cut federal funding to them until they mend their ways,” he said.
He also criticized nonprofits that rely heavily on government grants.
“If they can’t survive without government funding, are they truly a non-governmental organization?” he asked.
Social Security warning
One of the most substantive exchanges came over Social Security’s long-term solvency. An attendee asked about lifting the payroll tax cap. Self acknowledged the approaching deadline and warned of automatic benefit reductions if Congress does nothing.
“If we don’t do anything, you’re going to get a 24, 25 percent haircut immediately,” he said, referencing projections around 2032.
But he described the issue as politically difficult.
“Social Security is still the third rail of politics,” Self said. “Most of Congress doesn’t want to touch it.”
He noted the program falls under the House Ways and Means Committee and said change is unlikely without pressure from voters.
“Until the seniors say, ‘Wait a minute,’ nothing’s going to happen.”
Elections, judges and term limits
On election law, Self defended requiring proof of citizenship to vote and said mail ballots present vulnerabilities.
“The weakness in our system today is mail-in ballots,” he said. “That’s the weak link in election integrity.”
He described redistricting as a political issue that courts have largely avoided and said proposed reforms are often constrained by Senate rules.
Asked about term limits, Self said he supports them but doubts they advance.
“You’re asking the people that have been in Congress 30 years to say nobody ought to be in Congress for 30 years,” he said. “There is a snowball’s chance any term-limit bill is ever going to get a vote.”
He later criticized what he called “rogue judges,” singling out U.S. District Judge James Boasberg and saying he “probably should be impeached,” though he added “there is no appetite to do that.”
Foreign policy and other issues
Self also touched on committee work, saying discussions continue over the location of a new veterans clinic in the district and referencing delays to NASA’s Artemis mission. He described Europe as “beside themselves” over immigration pressures, tariffs and geopolitical tensions.
Near the end, he reiterated opposition to a central bank digital currency.
“Once the federal government has total transparency of your finances, your bank account, everything,” he said, “I see that as a very dangerous proposition.”
A packed room, unfinished questions
With more than two dozen people signed up to speak, the pace was brisk and several residents continued calling out questions as the event closed.
“Thank you, everybody, for coming,” Self said.
The meeting reflected the breadth of issues facing the district — and the difficulty of compressing national policy fights into a single morning conversation.
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