Rosanna Gabaldón

Arizona needs problem solvers, people willing to talk about the issues of job creation and sustainable growth, if we don’t listen to each other we won’t get anywhere.  At the House I would support measures that encourage business expansion in Southern Arizona and programs such as JTED.  I believe that by investing in the education of our students we will attract more businesses to Arizona.   

Yes, I plan to advocate for the State of Arizona to opt into the Medicaid expansion package provided in the Affordable Care Act.  It will keep skilled health sector jobs in the state, especially in Southern Arizona where hospitals are at risk of closure from the millions of dollars in uncompensated care that they must provide.  Most importantly, the expansion will allow many thousands of low income Arizonans to receive basic medical care which over the long-term reduces diseases and overall health care costs to the system and our taxpayers.

I would vote against it.

Saying that I’ll work to cut wasteful government spending is hollow without identifying those specific programs to cut.  Therefore, my goal is to participate in the evaluation of our State programs, and I am committed to ensuring the best value for our State budget.  Arizona needs to start budgeting like real families and put our children first.  Further cuts to educational programs are harmful to our States economic future; long-term investment in our children makes good business sense. 

Rosemont Copper Mine will make its decision to stay or go based on the economic recovery of copper.  The role of local government is to advocate for the interest of its citizens by ensuring that measurable and realistic mitigation plans are developed, that jobs remain local and the proposed mine remain accountable to its commitments.  Our best opportunities come from listening to each other. 

The highest priority issues for this race  are our investment in education, our commitment to economic development and our willingness to address water sustainability.  I will take ideas from Southern Arizona to the State Capital, because that is what our State needs; a little common sense and straight from the heart.