At the “C” Club, we’re on a mission to build a stronger, more prosperous Houston through fiscal responsibility, principled leadership, and effective governance. We do this by identifying and supporting quality candidates who share our values and possess the tenacity to fight for them in elected office.
Government Shutdown
As of October 1, the federal government has been shut down. As soon as the clock struck midnight in D.C., the finger-pointing began with both sides of the aisle claiming that the other is solely responsible for all the uncertainty and unrest that comes with a shutdown. Republicans and Democrats alike have taken to social media, the national press, and live-streamed forums defending their decision to vote yea or nay on a continuing resolution (CR).
The initial spin from the Democrats was that Republicans have a majority in the House and Senate, and, therefore, are responsible for the shutdown. However, while a simple majority was enough to pass a CR through the House, Republicans need Democrat votes in the Senate to clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold. Democrats are withholding their votes in an attempt to get guarantees on extensions for certain Obamacare premium subsidies and to roll back particular elements of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
Here’s what some of our local representatives have said:
Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-38):
“This shutdown—driven by Senator Chuck Schumer and Democrats demanding taxpayer funding for benefits for illegal aliens—has forced many federal agencies to reduce operations… Even during this ‘Schumer Shutdown,’ my office remains open and ready to serve the people of Texas’ 38th District.” (Source)
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02):
“The leftist philosophy of governance relies on lying to voters to stay in power. It’s the ‘everything is free and there are never any trade-offs’ philosophy. This is clear as day now, as they desperately try to spin this shutdown as anything but a Democrat party shutdown.” (Source)
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (TX-08):
“On September 19th, the House passed a clean CR which would extend federal funding for an additional two months. There were no gimmicks, no add-ons, no poison pills — it was simply a clean extension. 210 House Democrats voted against this clean CR, despite it being the exact same funding they voted on just seven months ago. Senate Democrats also followed Senator Chuck Schumer’s lead last night in their chamber, voting to officially shut down the federal government.” (Source)
Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36):
“Democrats are holding the government hostage to force through $1.5 trillion in radical pet projects. House Republicans did our job. We passed the clean, short-term funding bill that Democrats themselves had asked for, with no gimmicks, no partisan riders, and no tricks. Keep in mind, they voted for this 13 times under President Biden.” (Source)
Lawsuit Update on Redistricting
October 1 was not only the start of a federal government shutdown, it was also the start of a federal court case to decide whether Texas will be able to use its newly redistricted congressional map in the 2026 election. This nine-day, three-judge panel in El Paso represents the first legal dispute after a long legislative battle to add five new Republican-leaning congressional seats in Texas. The advocacy groups bringing this case forward argue that the lines were drawn on the basis of race which violates the equal protection given to minority voters.
A similar case was brought forward after Texas’ 2021 redistricting, in which several suits from different activist organizations were combined into one, League of United Latin American Citizens v. Abbott. That case was dismissed in district court.
Crime
Governor Abbott has launched a new task force in Harris County to crack down on violent crime with a special focus on repeat offenders. He is calling on state, county, and local law enforcement groups to aid this effort. He chose to start this operation in the Houston area because of his existing relationship with, and trust in, our local leadership but said that he plans to extend this effort to other parts of Texas, hoping that Harris County will serve as an example for the state on how to increase public safety through concentrated law enforcement action.
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Onward and upward,
The “C” Club of Houston