In Congress Gabrielle Giffords Will Continue to Be A Strong Advocate for Working Families

Candidate Has the Right Priorities for the People of Southern Arizona

TUCSON - During her career in public service, Gabrielle Giffords has been a strong advocate for working families in Arizona — fighting for improved access to health care, good jobs with good wages, and stronger public education for Arizona’s children.

In Congress Giffords will continue her work for Southern Arizona by advocating for an increase in the minimum wage. She has pledged that she will oppose any Congressional pay raises until we a balance the budget. Giffords will also work to eliminate corporate welfare that puts special interests ahead of taxpayers €“ such as the billions in tax breaks given to oil and gas companies, and the Medicare Drug bill that guarantees drug company profits.

“Our families deserve access to good health care, jobs that pay a good wage and strong public education for our kids,” said Giffords. “Those are priorities I will fight for in Congress.”

In the legislature, Giffords fought to expand health care for working families by sponsoring legislation to fund medically underserved areas in 2001 [HB 2459, in 2001], and sponsoring a bill to support rural primary clinics [SB 1039, in 2003]. She also helped improve access to health care for working families by supporting successful legislation to expand eligibility for the HealthCare group, which allows small businesses to buy into AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program [SB 1166, in 2004].

Giffords also worked for better jobs for working families. She sponsored the Rural Quality Employment Incentives Act [HB 2612, in 2001], which was designed to bring special attention to the economic needs of small towns. Giffords also fought to raise the minimum wage in Arizona [SCR 1037, in 2005]. Giffords’ campaign also collected hundreds of signatures to put Prop. 202 on the ballot — the initiative to raise Arizona’s minimum wage.

Finally, Giffords demanded improvement for Arizona’s public schools. Understanding that highest rate of return on any investment we make in our community comes from early childhood education, she worked closely with Gov. Napolitano to promote and support bipartisan legislation for all-day kindergarten in Arizona. [SB 1402, in 2004]

“Real incomes have been stagnating for our middle class families,” said Giffords. “We need fairness so every family has a shot at the American dream €“ not just the privileged and connected. I will continue to fight for working people if I’m elected to Congress.”