By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews.com
If you couldn’t dial in to Rep. Keith Self’s recent telephone town hall, don’t worry — TX3DNews.com was there. Here’s your seatbelt-required recap: straight facts, a few raised eyebrows, and a little levity for good measure.
Opening Notes: Trump Triumphs and Border Boasts
Rep. Self wasted no time framing the evening as a celebration of President Trump’s first 100 days. According to Self, illegal border crossings have dropped to “historic lows,” mass deportations are way up, and American companies are lining up to invest stateside.
Self also touted deregulation efforts, including repealing restrictions on liquefied natural gas exports and rolling back appliance standards — yes, even for lightbulbs and showerheads. Somewhere, a washing machine breathed a sigh of relief.
Tax Cuts: The Good, The Bad, and The Historic (Maybe)
The clock is ticking, Self warned, on the 2017 Trump tax cuts. Without action, individual and family tax cuts will expire this October, potentially hitting households with $1,000–$2,000 more in annual taxes.
Self was blunt: “Tax cuts don’t pay for themselves immediately.” His plan? Pair cuts with spending reductions to prevent the deficit from ballooning even faster.
However, beyond citing the usual targets of “fraud and abuse,” Self provided no detailed list of what would actually be cut.
The goal, he emphasized, isn’t to cut the debt — just to stop making it worse. Baby steps, Washington-style.
Courts Under Fire: A Judicial Rebalance?
In one of the evening’s sharpest moments, Self echoed Federalist-era language to argue that the Judiciary was “supposed to be the weakest branch.” He pushed hard for the “No Rogue Judges Act” to limit nationwide injunctions from district courts, reserving that power for panels or the Supreme Court.
Critics might say he’s proposing a major change to checks and balances; supporters might call it overdue reform. Either way, Self made clear he views parts of the Judiciary as more rogue than referee.
Election Integrity and the SAVE Act
Election security was a major theme, with Self advocating for the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Name-change worries (like after marriage) were waved off as “manufactured issues.”
Self’s view: protecting the ballot box is priority one, even if it means adding extra paperwork hurdles. It’s worth noting that according to records from the Texas Attorney General’s Office, actual prosecuted cases of voter fraud in Texas remain exceedingly rare — with only 155 convictions between 2005 and 2022 in a state with over 17 million registered voters.
Healthcare, Medicaid, and Fraud by the Trillion
Self didn’t pull punches when talking about Medicaid reform. He targeted “able-bodied” adults without dependents, arguing that improper payments have exceeded $1 trillion over the past decade. His focus: reserve benefits for pregnant women, seniors, children, and the disabled.
Tariffs, SNAP, and the Price of Soda
When asked about businesses facing a substantial tariff payments from trading with Canada and Mexico, Self admitted there’s no immediate plan for tariff revenue relief — “we’ll see” was the unofficial slogan.
Meanwhile, on the nutrition front, Self proposed booting sugary sodas from SNAP benefits. His argument: taxpayer dollars should fund meat and vegetables, not a national sugar rush.
A Clear Line on a Third Trump Term
Asked whether he’d support a third term for Donald Trump, Self didn’t hesitate: “No, I do not. I don’t think that is wise for the nation.”
He emphasized the importance of respecting presidential term limits, even while praising Trump’s accomplishments.
Foreign Affairs and Local Affairs
On Ukraine and Russia, Self was cautiously optimistic that peace talks could yield progress — though he warned of broader dangers from a newly aggressive “Axis of Evil.”
Closer to home, he addressed the Epic City controversy near Josephine, assuring constituents that local and state leaders are leading investigations, with federal authorities monitoring.
Final Thoughts
Rep. Self’s town hall was anything but low-key. From reshaping the courts to rewriting the rules on Medicaid and elections, Self outlined a vision of America grounded in strong borders, strict spending, and streamlined government — with a fair share of controversy on how to get there.
Whether you see it as a rallying cry for bold reforms or a risky recalibration of constitutional norms, one thing is clear: Rep. Self is leaning in hard, and the political battles in TX-03 are just heating up.
Stay tuned to TX3DNews.com. We’ll keep bringing you the facts — no phone prompts required.
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