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Bee discusses campaign
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| State Senate President Tim Bee discussed the upcoming election in which Bee, a Republican, is challenging U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat, for the Congressional District 8 seat. Bee is pictured a during a previous visit in Sierra Vista. (Mark Levy/photo.) |
Bill Hess/Wick communications
If there is one thing Arizona State Senate President Tim Bee isn't shy about, it is saying he is a consensus builder.
The Republican says he does not hesitate to reach across the political aisle seeking support from Democrats, citing the recent state budget negotiations and solution that averted a state government shutdown.
"It's going to be a contest, or competition, of ideas," Bee said on Friday about the campaign. Neither he nor she (incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) face primary challengers in September, so the general election race has already started.
Bee, during a nearly two-hour meeting, said that there are a number of issues where the two candidates have different takes, including how to address the nation's energy situation.
While Bee sees a menu of ways to address the nation's energy woes, especially in light of ever increasing gasoline prices, he said Giffords seems to be almost a single issue candidate looking at solar and wind to take care of America's energy woes.
He doesn't downplay the energy crisis. But he said Giffords and others in her party don't look at all the options, such as obtaining oil from shale, off-shore drilling and opening some of the areas in Alaska to exploration. Exploration and production technology, he said, can help lessen the impact on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which reportedly has large oil reserves.
And, he said, there are new technologies being developed, including hydrogen and perhaps nuclear-powered vehicles.
"There are incredible things on the horizon," he said.
Traditional large oil companies are investing in projects and what Congress must do "is invest in (energy) science," Bee said.
"Energy companies see the handwriting on the wall," he said.
Even though it may sound strange, it is time for the nation to stop having so many "boutique fuel blends" with different types at different locations, Bee said. One of his ideas is to have the government approve one high end blend to be used throughout the country.
"Solutions aren't going to be easy," he said.
Other areas where he said he differs with Giffords include keeping permanent President George W. Bush's tax cuts, a need to end death taxes that are a burden on survivors, the need for more free trade, and stopping illegal immigration into the United States.
Many of the issues where the two disagree impact the "sovereignty of our country" or its economic well-being, Bee said.
When it comes to immigration, Bee said the first thing is to secure the border and then to work on a guest worker plan that does not include amnesty. A guest worker program, he said, can help secure the nation, allowing border agents to focus on criminals.
Additional free trade agreements would provide a better economic base for Americans to do business, he added.
Touting his success as president of the state Senate, Bee remarked he has learned that consensus building is part of the logical way a government body works. He used the recent state budget negotiations as an example.
Without developing the consensus and reaching out to Democrats and some Republicans, "we were headed for a shutdown," Bee said.
The best way to govern is to find common areas of agreement for the good of the people, he said.
"I believe we need to put partisan politics aside most times," Bee said.
While the end result of the state's budget did not give everything to everyone, he noted it was the Southern Arizona leadership of both parties, which included him, that stepped up to solve the budget problems.
The budget was passed on a slimmest of margins, with Bee noting "a 'no' vote against the budget was easy, a 'yes' was difficult."
The final budget that came out of the state Legislature in late June was an example of how good relationships work, Bee said.
He sees that ability being transferred to Congress, where, if elected, he hopes to be named to the Appropriations Committee, or maybe the Transportation, Armed Services and Science and Technology committees.
When it comes to budget earmarks to help the congressional district, Bee said he believes the best way to go is to have federal funds embedded in agency budgets, which could help local areas, such as the Upper San Pedro Partnership, beyond just one year.
Bee said he's a believer in openness in the budget process.
"The earmark process has been abused," Bee said.
Bill Hess is senior reporter at the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review, a Wick Communications publication and the Vail Sun's parent company.
If there is one thing Arizona State Senate President Tim Bee isn't shy about, it is saying he is a consensus builder.
The Republican says he does not hesitate to reach across the political aisle seeking support from Democrats, citing the recent state budget negotiations and solution that averted a state government shutdown.
"It's going to be a contest, or competition, of ideas," Bee said on Friday about the campaign. Neither he nor she (incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) face primary challengers in September, so the general election race has already started.
Bee, during a nearly two-hour meeting, said that there are a number of issues where the two candidates have different takes, including how to address the nation's energy situation.
While Bee sees a menu of ways to address the nation's energy woes, especially in light of ever increasing gasoline prices, he said Giffords seems to be almost a single issue candidate looking at solar and wind to take care of America's energy woes.
He doesn't downplay the energy crisis. But he said Giffords and others in her party don't look at all the options, such as obtaining oil from shale, off-shore drilling and opening some of the areas in Alaska to exploration. Exploration and production technology, he said, can help lessen the impact on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which reportedly has large oil reserves.
And, he said, there are new technologies being developed, including hydrogen and perhaps nuclear-powered vehicles.
"There are incredible things on the horizon," he said.
Traditional large oil companies are investing in projects and what Congress must do "is invest in (energy) science," Bee said.
"Energy companies see the handwriting on the wall," he said.
Even though it may sound strange, it is time for the nation to stop having so many "boutique fuel blends" with different types at different locations, Bee said. One of his ideas is to have the government approve one high end blend to be used throughout the country.
"Solutions aren't going to be easy," he said.
Other areas where he said he differs with Giffords include keeping permanent President George W. Bush's tax cuts, a need to end death taxes that are a burden on survivors, the need for more free trade, and stopping illegal immigration into the United States.
Many of the issues where the two disagree impact the "sovereignty of our country" or its economic well-being, Bee said.
When it comes to immigration, Bee said the first thing is to secure the border and then to work on a guest worker plan that does not include amnesty. A guest worker program, he said, can help secure the nation, allowing border agents to focus on criminals.
Additional free trade agreements would provide a better economic base for Americans to do business, he added.
Touting his success as president of the state Senate, Bee remarked he has learned that consensus building is part of the logical way a government body works. He used the recent state budget negotiations as an example.
Without developing the consensus and reaching out to Democrats and some Republicans, "we were headed for a shutdown," Bee said.
The best way to govern is to find common areas of agreement for the good of the people, he said.
"I believe we need to put partisan politics aside most times," Bee said.
While the end result of the state's budget did not give everything to everyone, he noted it was the Southern Arizona leadership of both parties, which included him, that stepped up to solve the budget problems.
The budget was passed on a slimmest of margins, with Bee noting "a 'no' vote against the budget was easy, a 'yes' was difficult."
The final budget that came out of the state Legislature in late June was an example of how good relationships work, Bee said.
He sees that ability being transferred to Congress, where, if elected, he hopes to be named to the Appropriations Committee, or maybe the Transportation, Armed Services and Science and Technology committees.
When it comes to budget earmarks to help the congressional district, Bee said he believes the best way to go is to have federal funds embedded in agency budgets, which could help local areas, such as the Upper San Pedro Partnership, beyond just one year.
Bee said he's a believer in openness in the budget process.
"The earmark process has been abused," Bee said.
Bill Hess is senior reporter at the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review, a Wick Communications publication and the Vail Sun's parent company.
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Brittanicus wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:51 AM:
Look at Mexico, China, India! Overpopulated countries, where people starve to death everyday. How are taxpayers expected to pay for supporting all those poor people, their children and their elderly. Whose going to pay once they sponsor their extended families from other countries? What about the next rush on the border? We cannot even sustain our own people, who live in poverty? Are we heading for overpopulation like other countries? Foremost, we must remove the criminal aliens from America, that why Democrats must sponsor the Federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) Enforcement only.
Where are the newcomers going to drive their cars, on already gridlocked highways? Are they going to start clearing more farmland to build more houses? What about water shortages in the Southwest? Think of the consequences if we pass another AMNESTY? Read unsuppressed facts at NUMBERSUSA. "