Free Republic

Democrats are now 'soft favorites' to take the House, according to an analysis by University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato and his team. The latest periodic installment of Sabato's 'Crystal Ball' newsletter handicapping congressional the elections shifts 17 House races in the direction of Democrats. Race-by-race rankings are moving several GOP incumbents into the tossup category. Among them are Texas Rep. John Culberson, Illinois Rep. Peter Roskam, Indiana Rep. Steve Chabot, and Iowa Rep. David Young.

The House chairman who oversees Justice Department spending is telling so-called "sanctuary cities" that funding for police, jails and housing will end under President Trump's new executive orders tightening immigration control. "It's real easy, their money disappears. There's no fight, their money is gone," said Texas Rep. John Culberson, chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that funds Justice.

There are 300 “Sanctuary Cities” and counties around the United States that have policies in place blocking local law enforcement from complying with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests for immigration holds. An ICE detainer is a written request for a local jail or other law enforcement agency to detain an individual for an additional 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) after his or her release date, in order to provide ICE agents extra time to decide whether to take the individual into federal custody for removal purposes.

The federal Bureau of Prisons will now try to deport illegal immigrants rather than turn them over to sanctuary cities, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday in a bid to solve the situation that may have led to the death of Kathryn Steinle last summer. Ms. Lynch also said she'll begin an audit of sanctuary cities to see if they're violating federal law, and those that are found to be actively stymying immigration agents' work could lose grant funding.

Finally acting on a promise made to House leaders, the Justice Department on Thursday shut off funding to so-called "sanctuary cities" that ignore federal laws and protect illegal immigrants wanted for crimes. "Today, the DOJ notified local and state law enforcement agencies across America that they will no longer be eligible for federal law enforcement grants unless they certify under oath that their local or state laws do not interfere 'in any way' with requests for immigration information from federal authorities," according to Texas Rep. John Culberson who demanded action earlier this year. Justice sent Culberson a letter detailing the...

Today, Representative John Culberson (TX-07) released the following statement after writing Attorney General Loretta Lynch a letter expressing his opposition to sending Federal funding to sanctuary cities. He urged the Attorney General to change the Federal grant process so that no additional Department of Justice (DOJ) funding is provided to jurisdictions that either refuse to honor Federal detainers, harbor illegal aliens, or refuse to share information about criminal illegal aliens with federal authorities. "Sanctuary city policies across the country prevent State and local law enforcement from notifying the Department of Homeland Security when an illegal alien is released from their...

Thanks to a little-noticed action of Texas Congressman John Culberson taken last July, President-elect Trump will able to cut-off federal law enforcement funding to 9 sanctuary cities, plus the entire state of California, immediately upon taking the oath of office. Brenda Walker of Vdare explains: Because of the foresight of a Texas Congressman, President Trump will be able to end certain funding to the largest sanctuary cities plus the entire state of California on his first day as President. Working quietly, Culberson convinced the existing Justice Department to certify those cities as non-compliant with federal law, thereby making them vulnerable...

This week, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joined an amicus brief on behalf of 22 members of the Texas congressional delegation in support of private landowners along the Red River. The Bureau of Land Management has recently made waves by claiming thousands of acres of privately owned Texas land along the Red River. It has done so by utilizing — in apparent violation of a nearly 100-year-old Supreme Court precedent and tradition — an arbitrary and bizarre gradient boundary survey method that has adversely impacted private landowners. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) joined Cruz in the brief...

The Washington Times is reporting that Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas has forced the Justice Department to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities are places where the local government has forbidden its police department to cooperate with Homeland Security and ICE where illegal aliens are concerned. Thus far the Obama administration has taken a laissez faire attitude toward the practice.

A Republican lawmaker is vowing to tighten the purse strings on the Justice Department to make sure the Obama administration denies grant money to sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration agents. Texas Rep. John Culberson, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Department of Justice, warned Attorney General Loretta Lynch he'll use his budget authority if she doesn’t move to shut down sanctuary cities, the Washington Times reports. A Republican lawmaker is vowing to tighten the purse strings on the Justice Department to make sure the Obama administration denies grant money to sanctuary cities that refuse...

National Director of the Remembrance Project Maria Espinoza is planning a run for the House in Texas’ 7th District, and weighing in on President Obama’s executive action on guns. Espinoza tells Breitbart News Daily host Stephen K. Bannon: This gun grab is completely unconstitutional and I fear the Congress will do the same thing they’ve done in the past” when Obama has acted unconstitutionally. “They funded Obamacare. They funded executive amnesty…. I fear that if the people do not rise up quickly and strongly, that this Congress will cave once again. Espinoza said if she is elected to Congress, she...

HOUSTON, Texas — Today, the Cruz for President campaign announced the endorsement of Texas Congressman Randy Weber. Originally a small business owner, the second-term Congressman has been a strong conservative voice in Congress for fiscal discipline, national security, and protecting life. Weber won election in 2012 for the seat previously held by Ron Paul.“We have an impressive field for the 2016 elections, but we need a President who will march into the White House on Day One with their conservative values in one hand and the Constitution in the other. I believe Ted Cruz is the candidate who will do...

Oklahoma Conservative Says Cruz is a “Winner” and “Proven Fundraiser”HOUSTON, Texas – Oklahoma Representative Jim Bridenstine, one of the most principled conservatives in the House of Representatives, has endorsed U.S. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for President. Bridenstine is a vocal leader among a growing group of young conservatives in the House that have pushed for smaller, more accountable government, full repeal of Obamacare, and protections for religious liberty. The Oklahoma Republican becomes the sixth Member of Congress to endorse Cruz following announcements from Texas Representatives Louie Gohmert, Michael Burgess, John Culberson, John Ratcliffe, and Brian Babin.In a recent Breitbart.com op-ed Bridenstine...

In the dead of the night, with no committee hearings, no public input and no time to read the bill, the Senate approved a bill written in secret by President Obama, Vice President Biden, Senator Harry Reid and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi – the “American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.” According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Senate-passed bill would cost taxpayers $3.9 trillion over 10 years and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that it would add almost $4 trillion in debt over the next ten years. The official estimate is that it will increase spending by at least $330...

I was channel surfing about 15 minutes ago and caught a heated debate between John Culberson (R-TX) and Loretta Sanchez (on MSNBC). I had never heard of John before, but he was mopping the floor with Loretta (read: TOTALLY PW3N'ing her) and communicated his points well. All Ms. Sanchez did was blame Bush. Is Culberson an option for President in 2012? Don't know really much about his background (perhaps some long-term FReepers, particularly those in his district, could chime in.) Thanks for your input. And if the video gets uploaded at NewsBusters or YouTube, I will post a direct link...

VanityDear Congressman Culberson, I am writing you because I find myself with a serious bone to pick with your behavior in Congress. To wit, you are making me a seriously frustrated man. While other people have “representatives” that continuously give them ample cause for high blood pressure if not apoplectic fits, you sir seem to be incapable of the criminal stupidity that infects most of the rest of your colleagues. Your common sense and solid conservative voting record may be good for our country, but it is depriving me of a vital emotional safety valve. As I watch your fellow...

Mexico slams Border Patrol clemency. Criticizes commutation for former Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean. Plus, President Bush and Administration Corruption Exposed Part II 01.22.09 CNN Lou Dobbs Video: "Mexico Meddling" (Ramos-Compean, Bush Corruption Exposed Pt II) 01.14.09 CNN Lou Dobbs Video: President-Elect Barack Obama and Mexico's President Felipe Calderon met SEGMENT INTRO: New questions about Mexico's brazen meddling in the case against former border patrol agents Ramos and Compean who remain in prison tonight, we'll have special coverage of this continuing miscarriage of justice and the intervention of the Mexican government in the Bush administration's policy making. # And...

US Congressman John Culberson from the 7th district of Texas starts Qikking and is planning to Qik Mars Landing at NASA. This is again for one of the history books as John becomes the first congressman in US to start using Qik. His profile on Qik is qik.com/johnculberson.

Last week's story about the uncertainties endured by people who live in or near the route of the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor prompted many messages of support. But I wish there had been room in the story to quote Steve Huber, a University of Houston law professor who spoke at a January meeting in Bellville on the project. Huber opposed the corridor plan without taking the position — adopted, for instance, by U.S. Rep. John Culberson toward rail on Richmond — that the people most directly affected deserve the most consideration when a route is chosen. "My position carefully avoided the sort...

ongress helps college students with loan relief By The Rice Thresher Editorial Staff | Thresher Editorial Staff Given a lack of monetary influence, college students are an oft-ignored demographic in the policy making process. That is why we are so glad to see that one of the 110th Congress’ first moves was a bipartisan supported bill to lower interest rates on need-based student loans. H.R. 5, The College Student Relief Act of 2007, will lower interest rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the next 5 years. Once fully implemented, this step will save the average borrower — students...