Arizona Congressman Hosts First Town Hall Meetings Since Tucson Tragedy

Washington, DC Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) held a series of town halls in his district.

When asked about Rep. Giffords’ commitment to the one-on-one meetings, Rep. Gosar responded: "She did this as a regular order of business. That's what I think we should do and I think that's what she would want us to do."

The most recent town hall was held in Casa Grande, with residents of Arizona’s first district, which borders Tucson. The representative answered questions about health care, government regulations on business and education.

The last meet and greet held in the state was on Jan. 8 when Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 18 others were shot by a gunman. Six people died from their injuries.Click Here to View Rep. Gosar's Town Hall Meeting

Cutting Spending; Getting our Economy Back on Track

Dear Friends,

This past Saturday, the House of Representatives passed the largest spending-cut package since the end of World War II. The vote was an important step in our efforts to rein in spending and to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. For the first time in recent memory, the House was engaged in a debate on how to save money instead of spending it. We still have a long way to go, but Republicans in the House are committed to making the tough choices required to get America back on sound fiscal ground.

Our primary goal going forward is to restore an economic environment that will allow for robust and sustained job growth. We are experiencing a jobs crisis in this country: 21 straight months with the unemployment rate at or exceeding 9 percent. Millions of Americans—and thousands of Arizonans—are looking for work and struggling to pay their bills. I came to Washington in order to do something about these vexing problems. We have to eliminate the uncertainty that has been holding back our job creators and stifling innovation and investment. Cutting our paralyzing federal deficit and reducing burdensome government regulations will be just part of our efforts to achieve that goal. I will be working every day with members of both parties to enact pro-growth economic policies that will get people back to work.

As we face these many challenges over the coming months, it is critical that you are a part of the process. I encourage you to stay in touch with me by calling or writing my office directly, following my social media sites and attending town-hall and other upcoming events in the district. Our district office is located at 2400 E. Arizona Biltmore Circle, Suite 1290, Phoenix, Arizona, 85016. The phone number there is 602-263-5300. Our D.C. office is located at 1419 Longworth House Office Building, Washington D.C., 20515. The number there is 202-225-3361. My twitter handle is @benquayle and my facebook page is www.facebook.com/repbenquayle.

I look forward to staying in regular contact with you in this forum and others in the weeks and months ahead.

Sincerely,
Ben Quayle

So Just How Broke Are We?

Mesa, Arizona – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today illustrated the size and scope of the growing national debt.

It was announced yesterday that Country music sensation Garth Brooks will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June. Despite putting a hold on his career from 2001-2009, Brooks has sold 128 million albums worldwide since his debut in 1989. The U.S. is so broke that if Brooks’ albums were to completely pay off our national debt of more than $14 trillion, they’d have to be sold at a price of $109,375 each.

“There aren’t enough friends in low places who could chase our debt blues away,” said Flake.

Along with Senator McCain, Congressman Flake introduced in the 111th Congress the Debt Buy-Down Act, which allows taxpayers to designate up to 10 percent of their federal income tax liability to reduce the national debt. The bill then requires Congress to reduce federal spending by that amount. More information on the Debt Buy-Down Act can be found here.

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