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At debate Giffords, Bee differ on bailout, border fence
Candidates offer solutions on energy, hold similar views on education
By Bill Hess/Wick Communications
SIERRA VISTA - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords says she didn't like the bailout bill, but she made a decision to vote for it because something had to be done to bring the nation out of its financial mess.
In response, state Senate President Tim Bee said her decision on Friday was wrong and an example of many incorrect votes she has cast during her first term in the House of Representatives.
The bailout question at the beginning of Tuesday's debate between the two candidates in the Congressional District 8 race set the tone for the nearly 90-minute event at Buena High School, which had occasional tones of biting sarcasm between the two, coupled with short flashes of anger. The candidates faced questions on a range of issues, from the border to health care to the economy.
"I didn't like the bill any better than the rest of you," Giffords, a Democrat, told the audience of about 350 people. "I have no interest in bailing out greedy Wall Street fat cats."
Bee, 39, said his opponent's vote and how things work in Congress are a "perfect example of what's wrong in Washington."
Although he admitted something had to be done, the Republican candidate said the $700 billion bailout bill was full of pork, which made voting for it easier for Giffords, who had refused to vote for an earlier version on Sept. 29.
Giffords, 38, noted that the two Republican U.S. senators from Arizona - John McCain and Jon Kyl - also voted for the last version of the bill. McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, has made much about being against earmarks or added pork to bills and vowed if elected to the nation's highest office he would veto any bill that had earmarks in them. But he voted for the bailout proposal, which some say has billions of dollars of pork added by the U.S. Senate.
The incumbent said some of the additions are helpful, listing an extension of solar energy tax credits that will benefit Arizonans, additional protection for individuals who have more than $100,000 in financial institutions and the creation of a special commission to review the use of the funds in bailing out the markets.
Bee said the crisis was created by a lack of attention by the federal government.
"No one saw this train coming," Giffords replied.
She added that Friday's House vote is just one of many that will be taken to straighten out the nation's financial market problems.
The beginning of the debate revolved around economic issues, with the candidates sparring over whether Congress has acted right.
Both candidates touted their abilities to work across the political aisles, saying bipartisanship is important in getting things done in any legislative body.
On how to address high fuel costs, both said all avenues of energy use must be explored, but they differed on whether drilling for oil off America's shores or in Alaska was properly handled.
Giffords said she agreed with T. Boone Pickens, an oilman who says the nation is not going to drill itself out of the energy problem. But she said she supports requiring oil companies that have oil leases to drill or have their leases taken away from them and given to a company that will drill.
Bee said his opponent was remiss in following the Democratic House leadership by limiting drilling off shore to more than 50 miles off America's coast, which he said will not provide any real respite to the nation's oil problem.
Both said they support other energy programs to include solar.
A number of questions concerned immigration. The candidates sometimes agreeing and other times not on the same sheet of music.
Bee says he supports a guest worker program, as does Giffords. He said she wants amnesty given to illegal immigrants already in the county, which he doesn't.
Giffords did not counter Bee's claim, although in the past she has said she does not support amnesty.
When it came to the federal border fence program, Bee said he supports it, especially in creating vehicle barriers. Giffords said she supports a border fence in urban areas, but not rural regions. She said ranchers in Cochise County have told her the fence is no way to stop illegal immigrants because they find ways around it in the open areas of the state. She said what is needed are "more boots on the ground" when to comes to the U.S. Border Patrol and additional interior enforcement.
Both agreed that states need to be reimbursed for the costs of providing health care and prison space to illegal immigrants, as well as educational funds to help school systems that have become burdened with children of illegal immigrants.
In the educational arena, Bee and Giffords said they are concerned that not enough Americans going to college to seek degrees such as engineering so the United States can compete in the world market. Both also expressed support for public schools, but not for voucher programs.
Calling herself both a free trader and a fair trader, Giffords said she does not think free trade agreements are the best for the United States.
Bee said more free trade agreements must be approved, and he faulted Congress for holding them up.
Both are supporters of the military, saying Fort Huachuca is critical to the nation's defense and the economic well-being of Cochise County and the state.
They also agreed the issue of protecting the San Pedro River has to continue.
In closing the debate, both said they will make the best member of Congress.
Bee remarked his ability to work with both parties has been shown during his leadership as the president of the Arizona Senate, but he does not think the voters of the district "can afford two more years of failed leadership," indicating Giffords is in the pocket of the Democratic leaders of the House.
Giffords said the district voters sent her to Congress two years ago "to make tough decisions, and I've done that."
And she said she has listened to the district residents through letters, e-mail and thousands of phone calls, and she has and will continue to work in a bipartisan way.
The event was hosted by the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's legislative committee wrote the questions, which were not given to the candidates before the debate. Herald/Review Publisher Phil Vega moderated.
The event was sponsored by Cox Communications, which broadcast it live in Sierra Vista.
If you missed the debate, you can see it at 7 p.m. on Thursday on Cox Cable Channel 7 in Sierra Vista.
SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
(Cutline information: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and state Senate President Tim Bee move onstage as Tuesday's debate gets under way at the Buena Performing Arts Center in Sierra Vista. Both are seeking to represent Congressional District 8. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)
By Bill Hess/Wick Communications
SIERRA VISTA - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords says she didn't like the bailout bill, but she made a decision to vote for it because something had to be done to bring the nation out of its financial mess.
In response, state Senate President Tim Bee said her decision on Friday was wrong and an example of many incorrect votes she has cast during her first term in the House of Representatives.
The bailout question at the beginning of Tuesday's debate between the two candidates in the Congressional District 8 race set the tone for the nearly 90-minute event at Buena High School, which had occasional tones of biting sarcasm between the two, coupled with short flashes of anger. The candidates faced questions on a range of issues, from the border to health care to the economy.
"I didn't like the bill any better than the rest of you," Giffords, a Democrat, told the audience of about 350 people. "I have no interest in bailing out greedy Wall Street fat cats."
Bee, 39, said his opponent's vote and how things work in Congress are a "perfect example of what's wrong in Washington."
Although he admitted something had to be done, the Republican candidate said the $700 billion bailout bill was full of pork, which made voting for it easier for Giffords, who had refused to vote for an earlier version on Sept. 29.
Giffords, 38, noted that the two Republican U.S. senators from Arizona - John McCain and Jon Kyl - also voted for the last version of the bill. McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, has made much about being against earmarks or added pork to bills and vowed if elected to the nation's highest office he would veto any bill that had earmarks in them. But he voted for the bailout proposal, which some say has billions of dollars of pork added by the U.S. Senate.
The incumbent said some of the additions are helpful, listing an extension of solar energy tax credits that will benefit Arizonans, additional protection for individuals who have more than $100,000 in financial institutions and the creation of a special commission to review the use of the funds in bailing out the markets.
Bee said the crisis was created by a lack of attention by the federal government.
"No one saw this train coming," Giffords replied.
She added that Friday's House vote is just one of many that will be taken to straighten out the nation's financial market problems.
The beginning of the debate revolved around economic issues, with the candidates sparring over whether Congress has acted right.
Both candidates touted their abilities to work across the political aisles, saying bipartisanship is important in getting things done in any legislative body.
On how to address high fuel costs, both said all avenues of energy use must be explored, but they differed on whether drilling for oil off America's shores or in Alaska was properly handled.
Giffords said she agreed with T. Boone Pickens, an oilman who says the nation is not going to drill itself out of the energy problem. But she said she supports requiring oil companies that have oil leases to drill or have their leases taken away from them and given to a company that will drill.
Bee said his opponent was remiss in following the Democratic House leadership by limiting drilling off shore to more than 50 miles off America's coast, which he said will not provide any real respite to the nation's oil problem.
Both said they support other energy programs to include solar.
A number of questions concerned immigration. The candidates sometimes agreeing and other times not on the same sheet of music.
Bee says he supports a guest worker program, as does Giffords. He said she wants amnesty given to illegal immigrants already in the county, which he doesn't.
Giffords did not counter Bee's claim, although in the past she has said she does not support amnesty.
When it came to the federal border fence program, Bee said he supports it, especially in creating vehicle barriers. Giffords said she supports a border fence in urban areas, but not rural regions. She said ranchers in Cochise County have told her the fence is no way to stop illegal immigrants because they find ways around it in the open areas of the state. She said what is needed are "more boots on the ground" when to comes to the U.S. Border Patrol and additional interior enforcement.
Both agreed that states need to be reimbursed for the costs of providing health care and prison space to illegal immigrants, as well as educational funds to help school systems that have become burdened with children of illegal immigrants.
In the educational arena, Bee and Giffords said they are concerned that not enough Americans going to college to seek degrees such as engineering so the United States can compete in the world market. Both also expressed support for public schools, but not for voucher programs.
Calling herself both a free trader and a fair trader, Giffords said she does not think free trade agreements are the best for the United States.
Bee said more free trade agreements must be approved, and he faulted Congress for holding them up.
Both are supporters of the military, saying Fort Huachuca is critical to the nation's defense and the economic well-being of Cochise County and the state.
They also agreed the issue of protecting the San Pedro River has to continue.
In closing the debate, both said they will make the best member of Congress.
Bee remarked his ability to work with both parties has been shown during his leadership as the president of the Arizona Senate, but he does not think the voters of the district "can afford two more years of failed leadership," indicating Giffords is in the pocket of the Democratic leaders of the House.
Giffords said the district voters sent her to Congress two years ago "to make tough decisions, and I've done that."
And she said she has listened to the district residents through letters, e-mail and thousands of phone calls, and she has and will continue to work in a bipartisan way.
The event was hosted by the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's legislative committee wrote the questions, which were not given to the candidates before the debate. Herald/Review Publisher Phil Vega moderated.
The event was sponsored by Cox Communications, which broadcast it live in Sierra Vista.
If you missed the debate, you can see it at 7 p.m. on Thursday on Cox Cable Channel 7 in Sierra Vista.
SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
(Cutline information: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and state Senate President Tim Bee move onstage as Tuesday's debate gets under way at the Buena Performing Arts Center in Sierra Vista. Both are seeking to represent Congressional District 8. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
Robert Rowley wrote on Oct 23, 2008 4:00 PM:
Another great sign of the type of politician he is can be found at http://thedryheat.com/?p=330 where a person who worked with Bee in the State House says "The voters of Arizona CD 8 are seeing the politically ineffective side to GOP Congressional candidate Tim Bee. The guy can not make up his mind….
Let me preface my remarks by saying that Tim is a really nice guy. In fact, his easy going niceness is part of his political problem. He has a terrible time making up his mind if doing so will offend someone. I learned this first hand while serving in the Senate with Tim. I learned quickly that you never could count on his support." Even further, Tim Bee slams Gabrielle Giffords at every chance for voting on bailing out wall street. The fact is she DID vote yes on it, the second time. While Bee is slamming her for voting for it once he then brings in the person who wrote the bailout bill, tried over and over to ram it through congress and even voted for it TWICE, Boehner, to campaign for him.
Bee brought a failed President to Tucson for a fundraiser and stuck the people of Tucson with a $100,000 bill for the security, sometime soon he's bringing a failed Presidential candidate to Az. (Fred Thompson) to campaign for him. He's brought a person (Boehner), who is referred to as a "Crap sandwich" by Republican bloggers in to stump for him. Doesn't this tell you something about him by those with whom he associates?
Vote Giffords. "