YUMA, AZ -
Congressman Raul Grijalva is in Yuma today to speak at several events on social
security, Medicaid and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Grijalva's visit comes one week
after Arizona Governor Jan Brewer came to Yuma to promote her reversed stance
on expanding Medicaid. Congressman Grijalva made two stops in Yuma today.
He
toured the new Veterans Administration Clinic right after speaking at a Western
Arizona Council of Government Conference.
KSWT News 13 spoke to the state
representative about preserving social security funds, expanding Arizona's
Medicaid program and comprehensive immigration reform.
Congressman Grijalva says to
keep the social security system running; both democrats and republicans will
have to compromise by giving a little to take a little.
"People want us to solve
problems, they want us to get the spending under control but they don't want to
see their social security devastated," said Grijalva.
We also asked Congressman
Grijalva what he thought about Governor Jan Brewer's reversal to expand
Medicaid which is a key component of Obamacare.
Grijalva tells KSWT News 13
he's happy the state's top leader has pushed aside political posturing and is taking
care of people.
"The number of people that
were cut off previously, added to the roles, uncompensated care in the state
will go down, hospitals are happy, providers are happy, and generally everyone
is a little bit healthier, especially children," he said.
On immigration, KSWT News 13
asked the U.S. Representative if he's willing to compromise. Democrats want to
give illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship; republicans want them to go
to the back of the line.
"The debate is going to
get heated but I think the shrill… hateful rhetoric is becoming a thing of the
past and I think adults are going to dominate this discussion."
Congressman Grijalva is in the Yuma
County area for one more day. Today he hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for his
new office in Somerton. Friday, he will visit Promotoras of South County to talk
about Obamacare.
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