U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas 16) was back in Laredo April 19 to meet with Webb Country Democrats.
His visit was on the heels of the April 18 Laredo visit of Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas 20). Both are touring Texas in efforts to challenge incumbent Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2018.
After announcing an official bid for Cruz’s Senate seat March 31, O’Rourke has committed to visit all 254 counties in Texas with a promise to listen and understand the people of each community.
“I want to see what we can do in the Senate to see that every community, every family succeeds in Texas. Each person in this state, regardless of [political] party, deserves a chance at success,” said the Congressman.
First elected to Congress in 2012, O’Rourke currently serves as part of the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Along with U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Texas 28), O’Rourke represents border communities and believes the border makes America great. He has worked with Cuellar on strengthening security and commerce along the U.S.-Mexico border, and in 2013 helped introduce the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act (H.R. 1108), which authorizes Homeland Security to seek alternate sources of funding for Customs and Border Patrol. The bill became law in 2016.
“When you meet Beto, you meet a guy who does his homework, especially when working for the people of the border,” said Cuellar, as he introduced the Congressman to the gathering at AmeriK Suites.
O’Rourke said his decision to run for Senate followed the results of the 2016 Presidential election. He said that although apprehensions of undocumented immigrants along the US-Mexico border are at record lows, there is still an eagerness from the current administration to build a border wall that would cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. “Good thing there are no other priorities in this country,” he quipped sarcastically.
O’Rourke believes the role of government is to be bipartisan in its work for the American people. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or a Democrat — you want balanced bipartisan government. You don’t get that until you have balance in the Senate, and you don’t get that until Texas sends a Democrat to represent her for the next six years following 2018.”
While in Laredo, O’Rourke visited with TAMIU President Dr. Pablo Arenaz and learned about the university’s third-place ranking for social and income mobility in the country, its internationally diverse student body, and its recent success in robotics. He said students at TAMIU talked about how Pell grants and government subsidized loans propelled them to get an education that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. A United High School senior asked O’Rourke what his plans are “to prioritize education in Texas, considering Texas’ historic disregard for it.” The Congressman said he would fight the administration’s proposed budget cuts and work to reduce the rate of inflation in higher education, which has outpaced inflation in every other industry.
On student debt and addressing the brain drain many Texas cities face when their college graduates leave to find employment, O’Rourke, a graduate of Columbia University, suggested a loan forgiveness program if students returned to their hometowns to work after college. This, he said, would address a concern many cities face in the loss of local talent and human capital. He said he wants to tie the concerns of students with value for communities.
O’Rourke also spoke of the importance of enforcing term limits for Congress and addressing the gerrymandering that derails election outcomes. He said the odds of beating an incumbent are 100:1. “Many have rightfully concluded that their votes don’t matter in certain cities because the district lines align with political affiliation instead of common interests.” The advantages of gerrymandering, he said, are exploited by Republicans and Democrats alike. “The party in power wants to remain in power. It is time to take that [power] away from professional politicians and give it back to the people of this country,” he said.
An attendee at the O’Rourke reception asked about the chances of winning in a red state that has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in over 30 years. “We’ve had Bill White, Wendy Davis, Tony Sanchez, and we’ve all had our hearts broken. What are you going to do differently?” he asked.
“I’m not in this to raise the Democratic Party, I’m not in this to build my profile. I’m not in this to give it the college try. I’m in this to win,” he said. O’Rourke’s recurring theme centered on the importance of listening and addressing every Texan’s need — regardless of political affiliation.
“If our trade deal is gone, we would be giving China a gift on a silver platter,” U.S. Customs broker Arturo Dominguez said. O’Rourke was one of 28 Democrats who voted in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, who is also considering a run against Cruz, voted against it.
O’Rourke said he supports NAFTA and the critical importance it holds for the prosperity of border communities.
Webb County Democratic Party Chair and District IV City Council member Albert Torres hosted the meet and greet.
O’Rourke is currently tied with incumbent Senator Ted Cruz at 30% approval per the most recent Texas Lyceum poll.
