Texas remains the biggest Republican state in the country, proving that point on election night, as many Republicans soundly won their races. But as the GOP begins its majority journey again in January, there are some media outlets claiming that Texas is losing its clout and status in Congress.
Specifically, the Houston Chronicle said such a thing recently, claiming Texans will be in short supply in leadership roles on the Hill. That compared to previous years, and yes, a few Republicans are losing their Chair positions. But that is a far cry from losing influence in Washington.
Republican National Committeeman and Galveston County Commissioner Dr. Robin Armstrong says Texas’ size alone, holding 25 lawmakers, will always keep us at the forefront of power.
“We have such a well-diversified economy, that Texas will always have a sizeable influence, irrespective of losing a chairmanship here or there,” he says.
A few high-ranking members are indeed leaving Congress this year. 81-year-old Congresswoman Kay Granger, who led the Appropriations Committee, is retiring, and recently was found to be living in a memory care home for seniors. Congressman Michael Burgess, who was head of the Rules Committee, is also leaving. Because those three had such influence on spending, taxing and energy policies, the theory is that Texas has lost its power over everything.
But that could not be further from the truth. Because where one door closes, another one opens. Coming through that new door is a wave of younger, more fiscally responsible Republicans. That will only bolster Texas’ influence for years to come.
“Those same lawmakers are going to cause the economic viability to grow, and get stronger, which will then help improve our political influence as well,” says Armstrong.
Congressman Michael McCaul, who heads up Foreign Affairs, is being forced out of that spot because of GOP term limits on leading committees. There are still plenty of Texans leading committees though, just not ones with the same wielding power as those mentioned.
But even beyond the politics and Capitol Hill, there is another outside factor that will keep Texas at the table. That is many industries fleeing life in Blue states to come live in our more business-friendly state.
“There are a lot moving here that will make us a strong economic power, and therefore, give us even more political influence.
Armstrong adds that the next generation of younger lawmakers is also a movement Texans want, and their true Conservative ideologies will keep pressing us forward.