Houston Newsmakers June 4: Green on toxic D.C.; Whitmire & Bettencourt on Texas Legislature

HOUSTON – Congressman Gene Green has served as an elected official for 45 years, the first 20 in the Texas legislature and the last 25 representing the 29th Congressional District. That makes him the longest serving U.S. Representative from Southeast Texas.

He is a guest this week on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall and says the status of health care remains one of his main focal points as the politics of Washington continues to chip away at the possible effectiveness of the system.

"Typically what you do is after a couple of years you go back in and say let's see what's working and what's not and let's fix it," he said. "We couldn't do that because of politics in Washington because you couldn't get elected in a Republican primary if you said you wanted to fix the Affordable Care Act." 

Green weighs in on immigration, the Russia investigation, impeachment talk and much more. 

AND

State Senator John Whitmire, (D) 15th District, says there were moderate successes from this year's 85th Texas Legislative session but says one specific focus was misplaced.

"The transgender restroom issue I think was regrettable that we took time on an issue that quite frankly the people I represent don't think exist." 

State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R) says the bathroom bill was the right thing to do and also disagrees with Whitmire on the Ssanctuary cities bill.

"What this bill really does is just enforce the law and if you're a sheriff and you've got an ICE detainer you need to honor it," he said. "There's no constituency for criminal illegal aliens. We don't need to be putting them on the street." 

ALSO

This week is a Newsmakers Extra featuring State Senator John Whitmire and State Senator Paul Bettencourt on the just concluded legislative session.

More information:

• U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D), 29th Congressional District, 713-330-0761 https://green.house.gov
• John Whitmire (D), State Senator District 15, 713-864-8701, http://www.senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=15#Office
• Paul Bettencourt (R), State Senator District 7, 713-464-0282 www.texaschildrens.org/departments/injury-prevention