News
Residents show displeasure during Benson Tea Party
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| Local gathering: Participants dismayed by state of the country. (Thelma Grimes/photo.) |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Participating in what has become a national campaign, about 50 residents gathered at Lions Park Wednesday to participate in the Benson Tea Party.
With the message, "take our country back" residents listened to Republican hopeful Andy Goss, who is gathering signatures to get on the preliminary ballot to run against sitting District 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
This is the second Tea Party held in Benson; the first one, in September, had about 100 people in attendance.
Resident Don Swift said he attended both events. The veteran said he is not pleased with how Giffords and the federal government are managing the country.
"We want to take our country back, and convince our Congress members to follow the example set by our founding fathers," Swift said.
Residents in attendance held various signs with messages such as, "It's broke, so fix it" or pushing for change in the 2010 elections. Potential candidate Goss said Republicans will need to win between 35 and 40 races in 2010 to regain a majority control.
Currently, the Democrats have a majority in both the House and the Senate, and Goss said that majority has allowed them, along with District 8 representative Giffords, to pass what he called "the 1,900-page health monstrosity."
Recently, Giffords voted in favor of the $1 trillion health care overhaul that narrowly passed the house in a 220-215 vote.
C.J. Karamargin, a spokesman for Giffords, said Friday that the congresswoman doesn't feel the health care bill is perfect, but does feel it is an important first step.
"Many people agree that the health care system is broken and needs to be overhauled," Karamargin said. "Affordable health care for America is a necessary first step."
Karamargin said the congresswoman would have liked to see more tort reform, but she ended up voting in favor of the historical bill because it was endorsed by major groups such as AARP, which represents 40 million senior citizens, and the U.S. Medical Association.
Still, Goss criticized the bill during the Nov. 11 gathering and questioned whether Giffords is supporting the people, or following the Democratic party.
"Giffords is proud that (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) snaps her fingers and she jumps to it," Goss said. "She voted to put this country further in debt with the bailout; she voted for this health care bill. Our Congress has abandoned us."
Goss went on to say the problems are obvious, and "now it's time to fix them."
Goss stressed that it's not all the current administration's fault, noting many of this country's problems are due to President George W. Bush.
Goss did give some insight to his plans if he is successful in 2010. The Sierra Vista resident stressed that there is a need to make things simpler, which means bills that Congress and the general public can understand, and cutting the government.
Goss said education is a major concern, and he'd like to see the Department of Education cut, and the money placed in the hands of state and local school districts.
He also questioned Janet Napolitano, who was appointed director of the Department of Homeland Security by President Barak Obama. Goss said the department should be eliminated completely.
Goss also expressed traditional themes from the Republican Party, including a dislike for the Environmental Protection Agency and opposition to gun control laws.
The conservative said he'd also like to see more oil drilling done here in the United States, instead of relying so much on foreign oil.
Goss also said he'd like to do away with the Internal Revenue Service, and send postcards out to residents who should all pay a flat tax to make the system fair.
The nearly 50 people in attendance applauded Goss' idea, and several said more tea party events will be held in the San Pedro Valley.
Several residents said the events' purpose is to send notice to those currently seated, that they are not representing the people, and are not doing a good job.
Giffords is serving her second term, and will be up for reelection in November 2010.
Participating in what has become a national campaign, about 50 residents gathered at Lions Park Wednesday to participate in the Benson Tea Party.
With the message, "take our country back" residents listened to Republican hopeful Andy Goss, who is gathering signatures to get on the preliminary ballot to run against sitting District 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
This is the second Tea Party held in Benson; the first one, in September, had about 100 people in attendance.
Resident Don Swift said he attended both events. The veteran said he is not pleased with how Giffords and the federal government are managing the country.
"We want to take our country back, and convince our Congress members to follow the example set by our founding fathers," Swift said.
Residents in attendance held various signs with messages such as, "It's broke, so fix it" or pushing for change in the 2010 elections. Potential candidate Goss said Republicans will need to win between 35 and 40 races in 2010 to regain a majority control.
Currently, the Democrats have a majority in both the House and the Senate, and Goss said that majority has allowed them, along with District 8 representative Giffords, to pass what he called "the 1,900-page health monstrosity."
Recently, Giffords voted in favor of the $1 trillion health care overhaul that narrowly passed the house in a 220-215 vote.
C.J. Karamargin, a spokesman for Giffords, said Friday that the congresswoman doesn't feel the health care bill is perfect, but does feel it is an important first step.
"Many people agree that the health care system is broken and needs to be overhauled," Karamargin said. "Affordable health care for America is a necessary first step."
Karamargin said the congresswoman would have liked to see more tort reform, but she ended up voting in favor of the historical bill because it was endorsed by major groups such as AARP, which represents 40 million senior citizens, and the U.S. Medical Association.
Still, Goss criticized the bill during the Nov. 11 gathering and questioned whether Giffords is supporting the people, or following the Democratic party.
"Giffords is proud that (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) snaps her fingers and she jumps to it," Goss said. "She voted to put this country further in debt with the bailout; she voted for this health care bill. Our Congress has abandoned us."
Goss went on to say the problems are obvious, and "now it's time to fix them."
Goss stressed that it's not all the current administration's fault, noting many of this country's problems are due to President George W. Bush.
Goss did give some insight to his plans if he is successful in 2010. The Sierra Vista resident stressed that there is a need to make things simpler, which means bills that Congress and the general public can understand, and cutting the government.
Goss said education is a major concern, and he'd like to see the Department of Education cut, and the money placed in the hands of state and local school districts.
He also questioned Janet Napolitano, who was appointed director of the Department of Homeland Security by President Barak Obama. Goss said the department should be eliminated completely.
Goss also expressed traditional themes from the Republican Party, including a dislike for the Environmental Protection Agency and opposition to gun control laws.
The conservative said he'd also like to see more oil drilling done here in the United States, instead of relying so much on foreign oil.
Goss also said he'd like to do away with the Internal Revenue Service, and send postcards out to residents who should all pay a flat tax to make the system fair.
The nearly 50 people in attendance applauded Goss' idea, and several said more tea party events will be held in the San Pedro Valley.
Several residents said the events' purpose is to send notice to those currently seated, that they are not representing the people, and are not doing a good job.
Giffords is serving her second term, and will be up for reelection in November 2010.
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