Gosar calls federal budget ‘horrible’ during Yuma visit
U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar spoke to about 30 local voters Wednesday during a town hall forum held in the Foothills.
The forum was hosted by a local chapter of the Association of Mature American Citizens, which organizes meetings between elected officials and constituents around the country. Some local veterans were also invited to attend,
The conservative Republican congressman spoke about veterans issues as well as tax reform, the federal budget, Social Security, health care, immigration, Justice Department investigations and the Arizona Senate race during a wide-ranging discussion that lasted more than an hour.
“I’ll say it again — give me a minute, stick a nickel into me and I’ll tell you what I feel,” he said.
He decried the omnibus federal budget bill passed by Congress in late March to avert a federal shutdown. The measure appropriated $1.3 trillion to keep things running until September, when another budget showdown and/or shutdown is possible.
“I think I speak for most of you, we’ll see, but the budgetary process is broken. This horrible budget that was just passed, $1.5 trillion in deficit spending. shows you exactly what’s wrong with Congress.
“Folks, four people wrote that bill, two Republicans and two Democrats,” he claimed: (Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell) and Speaker (of the House Paul) Ryan, and from the Democratic side (House Minority Leader) Nancy Pelosi and (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer, and that’s it. If that’s not a kick in the shorts...”
He and others in the House had supported a plan to pass all military spending unchanged, and then go back over the rest of the budget, or else let mandatory cuts kick in after four weeks.
He laid blame for the dysfunction on the upper chamber of Congress. “We can pass lots of legislation in the House, but not the Senate, without changes. So you’re going to see me challenge the Senate repeatedly. I’m hated by both my senators, I’m hated by Mitch McConnell, I don’t care.”
A woman in the audience responded, “We voted for you, we elected you, we like you,” to laughter and some applause from the rest of the group.
Gosar said that Republicans will face stiff competition in upcoming U.S. Senate races, with at least one this November and possibly another this year or next, depending on whether and when Sen. John McCain steps down due to health issues.
“My problem is, (Phoenix) Mayor Stanton is going to run for that seat. There’s about a 50-50 chance or better that they have two Democratic senators, from Arizona,” he said, citing the political strengths of Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, the likely Democratic nominee for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jeff Flake.
The top Republicans competing for their Senate nomination are U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, former state Sen. Kelli Ward and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Gosar, a dentist, talked about the reasons he feels Obamacare should be repealed, and said other reforms need to be made, such as lifting the limited antitrust law exemptions for health insurance companies,
A bill he sponsored to do that passed the House overwhelmingly last year, but fizzled once it reached the Senate.
During his visit to Yuma, Gosar also presented an award in his annual Easter card contest to a winner at the Boys and Girls Club, and also met with voters at Brownie’s Cafe.
Gosar is running for his fourth term in Congress this year, and is unopposed in the Republican primary. David Brill, Ana Maria Perez and Delina DiSanto are seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat.