Washington continues to put partisanship and petty politics ahead of the American people. In 2006, Democrats promised the American people they would end business as usual. Instead they’ve continually failed the American people and have allowed a brewing financial crisis on Wall Street to threaten Main Street.

Any action by Congress must address important principles: it must protect taxpayers and not leave them responsible for bailing out Wall Street; it must comprehensively reform government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; whose failures are at the root of the financial crisis; and repeal the affordable housing fund which siphons off capital to fund liberal third party organizations.

My opponent, Gabrielle Giffords is not seen as part of the solution, or part of the discussions. That is not leadership for southern Arizona.

The experience and leadership I will bring to Congress is evidenced in what I have done in Arizona. Earlier this year, when the state had budget challenges; we averted a state government shut-down by working together with both sides of the aisle for an acceptable agreement. Our compromise budget kept the state of Arizona open for business. We worked together for Arizonans.

This crisis must be dealt with; but not on the backs of the American taxpayer. In Congresswoman Giffords statement that she released, she urged Democrats and Republicans to “put election-year politics aside” and develop solutions; while, according to the Arizona Daily Star, “she hopped on a plane for Tucson to … campaign against her Republican challenger, Tim Bee. Numerous efforts to reach Giffords were unsuccessful.”

I urge Congresswoman Giffords to follow her own advice and rush back to Washington, put politics aside and develop solutions as quickly as she rushed to Arizona to campaign against me.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 at 1:33 pm and is filed under Politics, Economy/Budget, Campaign .