Maricopa Monitor: Kirkpatrick, Gosar Dish on Recent Events

News Article

By Adam Gaub

The two members of Congress who represent the bulk of Pinal County spoke in Maricopa Friday morning about current hot topics, including illegal immigration and the ongoing VA hospital investigation.

Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Flagstaff, and Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, both spoke to critical issues at the monthly Pinal Partnership breakfast meeting. The pair, dubbed Washington, D.C.'s "Odd Couple" for their propensity to partner together on bills and causes, spoke more about what they've accomplished together than anything else -- despite the heat of an election year.

"We've partnered together on real problems that affect real people," Kirkpatrick said, highlighting initial funding of the Lower Santa Cruz River watershed project as a major achievement in the last six months.

Being in Maricopa, both addressed Maricopa's continued efforts for federal funding for an overpass on Arizona 347 at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing. Maricopa Vice Mayor Edward Farrell, also the vice president of Pinal Partnership, said both representatives had been helpful to the city's cause in securing those dollars.

"I think we're going to get that funding this year and we're going to get started on that overpass project," Farrell predicted.

Kirkpatrick said she's seen firsthand the problems caused by delays at the crossing.

"I've been stuck in traffic waiting for trains here, so I know what you face on a daily basis," she said.

Gosar and Kirkpatrick spoke about the ongoing VA hospital investigation, with Gosar saying the system should be shifted to allow veterans the opportunity to obtain care where they are, rather than traveling to the nearest facility. He spoke of a telemedicine program in Payson for VA patients that he sees as a possibility for improving care for veterans who live in rural areas.

He also spoke to the support both he and Kirkpatrick have for getting the Resolution Copper project off the ground. Gosar said the project would be a major economic boon for Pinal, with an estimated 4,000 new jobs created and $1 billion in revenue projected once the mine is up and running.

Gosar discussed the recent transfer of illegal immigrants from Texas to Arizona by the federal government. Gosar has been one of the more vocal members of Congress on the issue, calling the move by the feds illegal and saying it is putting a significant strain on humanitarian aid in Arizona to help care for the immigrants once they are delivered.

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