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Congresswoman Giffords focuses on economy at town hall meeting
By Thelma Grimes/Wick Communications
Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-District 8, said there is no way to sugar-coat it, the state and federal economy is in trouble.
Giffords hosted a town hall meeting in Tucson Monday afternoon, telling about 50 people that the economy is slipping and lawmakers need to start addressing the problems now, instead of waiting for it to get worse.
"We are here because the economy is not in very good shape," Giffords said. "There are no miracles and there are no magic wands for the current situation we are in. We are all going to have to make some sacrifices."
Focusing on the Arizona economy, Giffords said the state is currently ranked third after Nevada and California in housing foreclosures. One in every 201 homes is receiving a foreclosure notice.
Besides homes being in jeopardy, the job rate is down over the last 12 months, with the biggest losses coming in production and construction. Construction has been one of Arizona's biggest moneymakers over the last 20 years as it has become the second-fastest growing state in the nation.
When it comes to the federal economy, Giffords said lawmakers have not done a good job, in seven years turning a record surplus into a record debt. The federal economy is currently $9.17 trillion in debt.
Giffords said today's retired generation are not the ones who are going to have to pay for this debt, but unless something is done, their grandchildren will.
"We have made some terrible mistakes and choices when it comes to our economy and it is going to take a long time to get out of this," said the first-term congresswoman.
Giffords is currently running for a second term against Arizona Senate President Tim Bee.
Giffords went on to list several factors that have caused the economic downtown, including reliance on foreign debt and oil.
Giffords said America currently owes Japan $601 billion in overseas debt, $491 billion to China and $203 billion to the United Kingdom. Giffords said America even owes Mexico money, noting that most would think they owe the U.S.
Some residents questioned Giffords on gas prices and why America isn't doing more to drill more oil.
Giffords said there are currently about 68 million acres in this country that have received approval for drilling, but the owners are not actually drilling. This has led to legislation the Congresswoman referred to as "use it or lose it".
"There are millions of acres out there but no drilling," she said. "There are a lot of games being played right now. If the lease holders don't want to drill the oil, then they should lose the lease and it should be given to someone who will."
However, while more drilling is a temporary solution to a growing problem, Giffords said the ultimate answer is becoming more reliant on renewable energy.
"The U.S. currently sits on three percent of all the world's oil supplies," she said. "We use 25 percent of all the oil. That's why renewable energy is so important. We can't continue living the way that we have, because there's just not enough oil to go around."
Giffords gave some short-term solutions to improve the economy, stating she is behind the stimulus package where Americans are receiving a $600 to $1,200 tax rebate, but for the long term, the country needs to become more responsible.
Giffords said every state in the nation is required by law to have a balanced budget at the start of each fiscal year, but the federal government continues to spend money it doesn't have.
Lawmakers need to get a handle on spending, and more attention needs to be given to the war in Iraq.
Giffords, who has always been against the invading Iraq, said the war is costing about $339 million per day.
Looking at better ways to spend the funds, Giffords said that could hire 2,000 more Border Patrol agents, help 48,000 homeless veterans, approve 937 grants for research or give 18,000 more college students Pell grants.
Giffords hosted a town hall meeting in Tucson Monday afternoon, telling about 50 people that the economy is slipping and lawmakers need to start addressing the problems now, instead of waiting for it to get worse.
"We are here because the economy is not in very good shape," Giffords said. "There are no miracles and there are no magic wands for the current situation we are in. We are all going to have to make some sacrifices."
Focusing on the Arizona economy, Giffords said the state is currently ranked third after Nevada and California in housing foreclosures. One in every 201 homes is receiving a foreclosure notice.
Besides homes being in jeopardy, the job rate is down over the last 12 months, with the biggest losses coming in production and construction. Construction has been one of Arizona's biggest moneymakers over the last 20 years as it has become the second-fastest growing state in the nation.
When it comes to the federal economy, Giffords said lawmakers have not done a good job, in seven years turning a record surplus into a record debt. The federal economy is currently $9.17 trillion in debt.
Giffords said today's retired generation are not the ones who are going to have to pay for this debt, but unless something is done, their grandchildren will.
"We have made some terrible mistakes and choices when it comes to our economy and it is going to take a long time to get out of this," said the first-term congresswoman.
Giffords is currently running for a second term against Arizona Senate President Tim Bee.
Giffords went on to list several factors that have caused the economic downtown, including reliance on foreign debt and oil.
Giffords said America currently owes Japan $601 billion in overseas debt, $491 billion to China and $203 billion to the United Kingdom. Giffords said America even owes Mexico money, noting that most would think they owe the U.S.
Some residents questioned Giffords on gas prices and why America isn't doing more to drill more oil.
Giffords said there are currently about 68 million acres in this country that have received approval for drilling, but the owners are not actually drilling. This has led to legislation the Congresswoman referred to as "use it or lose it".
"There are millions of acres out there but no drilling," she said. "There are a lot of games being played right now. If the lease holders don't want to drill the oil, then they should lose the lease and it should be given to someone who will."
However, while more drilling is a temporary solution to a growing problem, Giffords said the ultimate answer is becoming more reliant on renewable energy.
"The U.S. currently sits on three percent of all the world's oil supplies," she said. "We use 25 percent of all the oil. That's why renewable energy is so important. We can't continue living the way that we have, because there's just not enough oil to go around."
Giffords gave some short-term solutions to improve the economy, stating she is behind the stimulus package where Americans are receiving a $600 to $1,200 tax rebate, but for the long term, the country needs to become more responsible.
Giffords said every state in the nation is required by law to have a balanced budget at the start of each fiscal year, but the federal government continues to spend money it doesn't have.
Lawmakers need to get a handle on spending, and more attention needs to be given to the war in Iraq.
Giffords, who has always been against the invading Iraq, said the war is costing about $339 million per day.
Looking at better ways to spend the funds, Giffords said that could hire 2,000 more Border Patrol agents, help 48,000 homeless veterans, approve 937 grants for research or give 18,000 more college students Pell grants.
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