Q&A with Paul Gosar

Gosar and the others have a rising tide of discontent on their side, brought on by a growing impatience for economic recovery, a fear that the country has spent itself into bankruptcy and nagging belief that the America they once knew is no more.

Gosar has successfully fought his way through a primary against candidates with better name recognition to have a shot at unseating incumbent Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick.

In an interview with Verde Valley Newspapers, Gosar discusses his views on immigration, the economy, the election and what he feels needs to be done over the next two years.

VVN: Who is Paul Gosar?

Gosar: I was born and raised in a small town in western Wyoming. First of 10 kids. Self made. Built my own dental practice in Flagstaff. Involved in dental politics but never held a public office. Small businessman.

VVN: How does your inexperience in Washington and the current political climate affect your view of this year’s election?

Gosar: I am not completely new to politics, but I learned my lessons around the family dinner table where I learned one person could make a difference. I think this election offers a clear choice. Ann [Kirkpatrick] stands for the intrusion of big government.

I believe we have to cut the federal government back, reduce taxes, reduce regulation and allow businesses to get back on track.

VVN: Since the economy is of the utmost importance to you, discuss your views.

Gosar: We have rewarded bad behavior, on Wall Street, the banks, Chrysler and G.M. It’s intolerable. In this district that is filled with small businesses, the current Congress has hurt not helped. They have levied more taxes, and we can’t take it any more

Say what you want but people are losing their houses, jobs, pensions, healthcare and the freedoms that we have.

VVN: Has the stimulus and other jobs creation programs helped the economy?

Gosar: They have helped to proliferate federal government jobs, but not in the private sector. That’s been shown over and over. We have actually killed private industry.

VVN: Given that, what sort of policy changes should be made?

Gosar: It’s not about hiring people anymore. It’s about saving jobs and saving people in business. I’m a small businessman. I can tell you small business doesn’t want a bailout. We want to be left alone, so we expand business and hire people. You do that by lowering taxes and lowering regulations.

Big banks are still holding the little banks hostage. There is no money moving in this district to help small business.

VVN: How would you go about getting banks to loan money to small businesses?

Gosar: It’s called competition. Freeing up capital gains is a good start. Every time we have lowered capital gains we have actually helped small businesses. It gets people to invest in America.

VVN: You have also stressed the immigration issue. What needs to be done?

Gosar: It is not up to the federal government to honor certain laws and disregard others. We can start by enforcing the laws we have.

We also have to close the loopholes. To be part of this community we call the United States you need to be a legal citizen, born to at least one parent who is here as a legal citizen.

And we need to once again reward good behavior. Let’s not reward those who came illegally. Let’s build pathways by creating a worker program and reward those who follow the rules, stay and do work that helps build the country.

VVN: What other issues will you be focusing on over the next two years?

Gosar: Health care is a big one. We need some reform but what we have here is horrendous. Health care belongs between the provider and the patient. They need to be making the decision, not having their care interpreted and rationed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

We can start by letting the insurance companies compete fairly and see what their ingenuity can come up with. We also have to hold public health accountable. It’s better at the local level.

And last but not least, how about tort reform. Oh, I forgot, Ann Kirkpatrick is one of the 170 attorneys in the House of Representatives who don’t want to see tort reform.

We need to get back to the basics in District 1. We can start with customer service. The American people deserve what small business has been delivering. I intend to give that to them, because it is not being given now.
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