Bipartisanship

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is Southern Arizona’s independent voice in Washington.  As a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and the business-centric New Democrat Coalition, Congresswoman Giffords is an effective advocate for her constituents.  She works across party lines and brings people together to find common-sense solutions.

Major Votes Against Leadership

• Congresswoman Giffords voted against increasing the national debt limit (Dec. 16, 2009).

• Congresswoman Giffords supported an amendment to the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which would repeal TARP and lower the national debt limit (Dec. 11, 2009).

• Congresswoman Giffords voted against the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill (Feb. 25, 2009).

• Congresswoman Giffords supported measures that would bar the Interior Department from prohibiting an individual from possessing a firearm in a national park or wildlife refuge (April 30, 2009, Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act).

• Congresswoman Giffords voted against “Cash for Clunkers” and also voted against extending the program’s funding (June 9, 2009).
• Congresswoman Giffords voted against the Auto Bailout (Dec. 19, 2008).
• Congresswoman Giffords supported an amendment offered by Congressman Jeff Flake which would have investigated earmarks given to clients of PMA Lobbying Group (March 5, 2009).
• Congresswoman Giffords supported several amendments offered by Congressman Jeff Flake which would have investigated the relationship between earmarks and campaign contributions (March 10, 2009; March 19, 2009; March 25, 2009; March 30, 2009; April 1, 2009; May 12, 2009; July 22, 2009, March 18, 2010, March 25, 2010, April 15, 2010, April 22, 2010).

Debt and Deficit

• Congresswoman Giffords is a proud member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.
• Congresswoman Giffords was a lead advocate in Congress for creating a bipartisan commission to examine all areas of federal spending and propose ways of reducing the national debt.  She cosponsored the Securing America’s Future Economy Commission Act which would do just that.
• She voted against increasing the nation’s debt limit by $290 billion to $12.394 trillion in December 2009.
• Congresswoman Giffords signed a letter to House leaders opposing the debt increase citing, “the skyrocketing deficits are taking us down a path to mushrooming debt that will have serious real-world consequences.  Deficits and debt matter for everyone.  In 2008, American taxpayers paid more than $250 billion to our creditors in interest payments alone, and each citizen’s share of the debt is more than $38,000. Long-term deficits will drive up interest rates for consumers, raise prices of goods and services and weaken America’s financial competiveness and security.”

Health Care

• At the request of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Congresswoman Giffords sent a letters to Chairman Waxman (Energy and Commerce Committee) and Speaker Pelosi to expressing concern about Arizona’s ability to afford new Medicaid enrollees under the Senate health care bill.
• Congresswoman Giffords introduced with Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX) the More Doctors, More Choices Act which will give doctors a one-time opportunity to opt back into Medicare when a long-term SGR extension goes into effect.

Immigration

• Congresswoman Giffords has repeatedly criticized the federal government for not securing the border.
• In March 2009, Congresswoman Giffords sent a letter with Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to President Obama supporting comprehensive immigration reform and securing the border.
• Congresswoman Giffords joined Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX) in sponsoring the New Employee Verification Act which proposes changes to E-Verify to make it a more reliable, effective and balanced employee verification system.
• In spring 2010, Congresswoman Giffords joined Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) in calling for the immediate deployment of the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border.  She also introduced a resolution with him recognizing the increasing violence along the southern border.
• Congresswoman Giffords introduced legislation with Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA) that would impose tough new regulations on stored value devices, a favored money-transfer mechanism of Mexican drug cartels.

Solar Energy

• Congresswoman Giffords convenes a bipartisan working group called the “Solar Hot Team” with Mayor Bob Walkup and AZ Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes.  This group has a weekly conference call to discuss solar energy related activities around the state despite party differences.

Guns

• Congresswoman Giffords signed Amicus Briefs submitted to the Supreme Court in support of rights granted under the Constitution’s Second Amendment regarding the DC and City of Chicago gun bans.
• Congresswoman Giffords is a cosponsor of the Veterans Heritage Firearms Act which allows a 90-day amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record any firearm acquired before October 31, 1968.
• She was a cosponsor of the Second Amendment Enforcement Act in the 110th Congress.  It would restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia by correcting DC’s law in order to restore the fundamental rights of its citizens under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and thereby enhance public safety.
• Congresswoman Giffords spearheaded a letter to Southwest Regional Chief of U.S. Forest Service Gail Kimball on May 12, 2008 expressing concern of decreasing opportunity for recreational shooting on National Forest Service land.  It was signed by Congressman Trent Franks and Harry Mitchell.

Earmark Reform, Transparency and Accountability in Government

• Congresswoman Giffords sponsored the Clean Law for Earmark Accountability Reform (CLEAR) Act which would prohibit a Member of Congress from accepting contributions from any entity for which the candidate sought a congressional earmark.  3 Republicans are cosponsors including Congressman Jeff Flake.
• Congresswoman Giffords posts all of her earmark requests online and requires at least one letter of support from a community leader explaining why the project is an important use of taxpayer funds.  She does not request earmarks on behalf of for-profit entities.  These transparency and accountability measures exceed what is required by Congressional Leadership and the House Appropriations Committee.

Other

• Jim Kolbe Post Office
  • Congresswoman Giffords introduced H.R. 4495, to name the Post Office in Patagonia the ‘Jim Kolbe Post Office.’  H.R. 4955 is cosponsored by the entire Arizona delegation.
• Motorcycle Safety
  • As co-chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, Congresswoman Giffords joined with Congressman Burgess (R-TX) to pass H. Res. 269, supporting Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
• Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
  • Congresswoman introduced this resolution with Ranking Members Ralph Hall (R-TX) and Pete Olson (R-TX) which passed the House on July 20, 2009.