Kwasman vies for Congress
Adam Kwasman, a freshman state lawmaker, announced Monday that he will run for Congress in the sprawling northeastern Arizona District 1.
He is the third Republican to officially enter the race, setting up a primary contest with his party leader at the state Capitol, House Speaker Andy Tobin, and oilman and rancher Gary Kiehne.
Kwasman, an economic consultant by trade, criticized Congress’ handling of the country’s finances.
“They’re not addressing the longterm problems,” he said. “They’re at each other’s throats. And then they kick the can.”
Kwasman said replacing incumbents is the only way to solve the nation’s gridlock.
With Republicans in the minority, working with Democrats is necessary, Kwasman said. “We need something that’s going to be palatable for everybody,” he said.
But he also promised to be a conservative lawmaker who wouldn’t bend on his values.
For instance, Kwasman said he supported House Republicans’ failed strategy to press for changes to the Affordable Care Act in exchange for funding the government.
When Democrats refused to budge, the effort led to a two-week-plus government shutdown.
Kwasman would bring his economic expertise to Washington, he said.
He contradicted the majority of economists during the recent debt-ceiling fight, when he denied that failing to authorize continued borrowing would be a
“doomsday scenario,” according to
Kwasman said he meant that raising the debt ceiling treats the symptom of the nation’s debt, not the cause.
“The true sickness is the spending,” he said. “We need to make sure our spending is in line with our revenues.”
Kwasman would entertain all ideas for long-term debt reform, including raising the Social Security retirement age and “means testing,” or providing fewer benefits or charging more to wealthy Americans for Social Security and Medicare.
He plans to continue serving in the Legislature while he campaigns.
District 1 is one of three competitive congressional seats in Arizona. It stretches from the Utah line to suburbs of Tucson such as Oro Valley, which Kwasman represents.
U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat in her second term, currently represents the district.
Kwasmanalso has pledged to fight for the Navajo Generating Station, which could be forced to close under scrutiny from the Environmental Protection Agency over pollution.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Kwasman’s conservative agenda would be “disastrous.”
“While he may tout the support of Tea Party groups that recklessly pushed for the government shutdown and a default on our debt, hardworking Arizonans will reject Adam Kwasman for that very reason,” spokesman Matt Inzeo said in a written statement.