Senator John Cornyn on Budget Bill, Border Security, and Texas Race

Budget Bill and National Debt

• 💰 The Senate is considering a Republican spending bill from the House that extends 2017 tax cuts but may affect Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
• 📈 The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could raise the national debt by $4 trillion.
• 🎯 Senator Cornyn emphasizes the need for surgical savings from the $37 trillion national debt, focusing on mandatory spending.
• ⚖️ He supports real work requirements for means-tested programs like food stamps and Medicaid, arguing that able-bodied adults currently receive more benefits than the disabled, pregnant women, and children.

Border Security and Texas Reimbursement

• 📌 Cornyn is pushing for $12 billion to reimburse Texas for border security efforts over the last decade, stating it's a matter of fairness.
• 🤝 He believes this reimbursement is crucial and has support from President Trump and Speaker Johnson.
• ⚠️ The Biden administration's open border policy is cited as the reason Texas taxpayers had to bear these costs.

Rural Hospitals and Healthcare Access

• 🏥 Concerns exist about proposed Medicaid cuts impacting rural hospitals, with over 20 having closed in Texas in the last decade.
• 💡 Cornyn acknowledges this is a real problem but suggests compensating rural hospitals that depend on Medicaid patients, as Medicaid reimburses at a lower rate than private insurance or Medicare.

Biden's Competency and Investigations

• 🔍 Cornyn is investigating whether President Biden's staff misrepresented his health, suggesting it's a constitutional crisis.
• ⚖️ He believes federal crimes, possibly impersonating a federal officer, may have been committed by Biden's staff or family for downplaying his competency.
• 📰 He criticizes the mainstream media for not adequately reporting on the issue.

Illegal Immigration and Border Security

• 💔 The tragic death of Ava Moore, run over by an undocumented immigrant, is highlighted as a consequence of open borders.
• ⚖️ Cornyn advocates for re-establishing deterrence and exploring potential federal charges, including the death penalty, for illegal immigrants who take American lives.
• 🏛️ He notes that while murder cases are typically state charges, the federal government can intervene if state charges are inadequate.

Trump's Tariffs and Trade Policy

• ⚖️ The US Court of International Trade blocked Trump's tariffs, but Cornyn notes this is not the final word, with potential appeals to the Supreme Court.
• 🤝 He supports President Trump's 90-day pause on tariffs to allow for reciprocal negotiations with other countries.

Senate Race and Character

• 📊 Cornyn is running for a fifth term and highlights his 99.2% voting record with President Trump's agenda.
• ❓ He acknowledges trailing Ken Paxton in early polls, attributing it to name identification and believing that character still matters to Texans.
• 🗣️ He is eager to debate Ken Paxton, particularly to counter any allegations about his support for Trump or border security efforts.