Sunday, January 28, 2007

Sierra Vista Herald

Imagine that you’re Gabrielle Giffords.

You’ve been in the U.S. Congress officially for three weeks, and the learning curve is not only the issues you get to vote on, but also the procedures and places where you can make an impact. This is no easy world, and she knows it. Iraq looms large. The solutions are complex. Terrorists still threaten America. And the money to pay for a war as well as keep paying for domestic projects must be found. In a conversation Friday with the Herald/Review editorial board, Giffords showed she is quickly learning the issues that are important for the people of her district, especially Cochise County. She calls our county the heart of her district, pointing out that some Tucsonans, such as herself and Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, have roots here.

Last week, Giffords made it a priority to continue learning the issues in this area. She met with hospital, city and military officials. She learned about the San Pedro River and the border. One of her main priorities, she said, is the protection of the San Pedro River and Fort Huachuca, an issue long reviewed and studied. She says she’s aiming to pull funding for the river, which would likely include the Upper San Pedro Partnership, out of the earmark process and into the regular budget process. And there’s good reason for this to make sense: It means fighting for funds wouldn’t have to be done on a yearly basis.

In regard to the fort, she trying to gain attention for this important military facility. She said Ike Skelton, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has told her he’s willing to see the fort and possibly hold a meeting here. That would be a coup for Giffords to gain the attention of a senior representative such as this. It also could continue to spread the word about the fort’s importance to the fight against terrorism, but also its impact on Arizona, Cochise County and Sierra Vista.

The border, too, is an issue she knows is on the minds of her constituents. She doesn’t support a border wall. She says she does support more manpower and high-tech equipment on the border. She also sees the need for a worker program, which wouldn’t be a path to citizenship or amnesty. Instead, she sees a need in America to fill the void of workers our nation isn’t producing fast enough – ranging, in her view, from the low-wage, low-skill workers to higher-level workers such as scientists and mathematicians. The question, however, is if such a temporary worker program could gain enough support, especially in a divided Congress. That remains to be determined.

Lastly, Giffords also sees her assignment to the Committee on Foreign Affairs as a boon. Her focus will be to address western hemisphere issues, which puts her right into Central America and Mexico. She sees it as an opportunity to work with Mexico and find ways to help that nation grow economically while also keeping potential illegal immigrants in their home country.

That’s a large task, but one that is part of what’s necessary to solve the U.S. illegal immigration problem for good.

In our short conversation with Giffords, we see promise in a congresswoman who is going to research issues and get out and see them for herself. She is optimistic, hard working and seems to be a quick study.

She gives her district a true fresh start.

Click here to read the article in the Sierra Vista Herald