Ron Barber and Matt Heinz appeared at a forum yesterday. It will be broadcast tonight on Arizona Illustrated at 6:30 as well as on KAUZ 89.1. Brady McCombs has a summary of one portion of the debate.
Barber brought up Heinz’s vote on HB 2718. The jab came at the end of the debate, and shortly after Heinz had made his sell-out allegations against Barber for his split the difference vote on Eric Holder’s contempt charges.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Barber voted wrong on that one. After speaking to Barber about the vote, I still don’t agree with it, but it was not about currying favor with Republican leaders.
I can’t say that about Heinz’s vote on HB 2718. If the vote on Holder was about a partisan witch hunt, much the same could be said about 2718. It was a partisan temper tantrum following Clarence Dupnik’s statements about talk radio and the Tea Party in the wake of the January 8th shootings, and a way to prop up someone who was then a rising star in the Republican party. Heinz can release a littany of excuses, as he did today (his statement is after the jump), but this was him giving bipartisan cover for an act of Republican umbrage.
Something to remember when reading the statement he released: the bill not only gave the Pinal County Sheriff funding for “border security” (even though Pinal County has no border with Mexico) and took away funding from the Pima County Sheriff, his own sheriff. The money was supposed to go to gang interdiction and prevention programs, which may have done some good for the neighborhoods he was supposed to represent. Not only was Heinz willing to curry favor with some of the most retrograde political personalities in our state on their pet issue, but he was willing to do so at the expense of his own constituents.
Heinz is acting shocked at this attack, but he shouldn’t be. This vote has been controversial since he took it. Heck, I complained to him about it at the time. He should understand that if he wants to attack Barber as some sort of sell-out, he should be ready for his checkered record on important issues to be questioned.
CD2 Candidate Heinz Responses to Barber’s Televised Attack Tucson, Ariz. – August 20, 2012 – CD2 Candidate Matt Heinz, a two-term state representative, continues to stand by his voting record. Opponent Ron Barber attacked Heinz’ record during the taping of Arizona Illustrated’s CD2 Democratic Candidate Forum. Heinz, who was not provided an opportunity to respond, released the following statement:
“Since my opponent accused me of ‘cutting deals with right-wing sheriffs’ without providing an opportunity to ask for clarification,” stated Heinz. “I am forced to assume he was referring to my vote on HB 2718, a measure that would have provided Pinal County’s Sheriff Department with funds to purchase public safety equipment.”
Heinz continued, “Despite criticism, I proudly supported HB 2718 in the Appropriations Committee, along with the Democrat minority leader and two additional Democrats, and on the House floor; joined by a Democratic colleague from Yuma. The needs of the Sheriff’s Department were clearly demonstrated. Accordingly, I put politics aside to support law enforcement officials’ request for body armor, night-vision goggles and other equipment to bolster border security.”
“Pinal County is facing escalated cartel and trafficking activity due to the major Interstate corridors of I-10 and I-8. The Sheriff’s Department and community are at a great disadvantage because Pinal County is ineligible for the annual federal grants that are available to other counties in the border region. It was an urgent problem that should supersede our political differences as Democrats with the controversial Sheriff,” explained Heinz.
“While HB 2718 did not pass in the Senate, funds were eventually transferred to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department so that safety and tactical equipment could be purchased for deputies. Without state assistance, the region’s primary law enforcement agency would be without the resources needed to protect themselves and their community,” said Heinz.
“I stand by my record of supporting and protecting our law enforcement agencies, my endorsement from the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police is a testament to that. I would cast the same vote again because we need lawmakers who know when to put politics aside to achieve real results, not just make symbolic gestures.”
“Although I heard about a whisper campaign against me regarding this issue, I will not presume that my opponent is an active participant. If my opponent would like to publicly clarify what he meant by ‘cutting deals’,” said Heinz. “then I welcome it, and I will address it.”
6 Comments
Now that is a legitimate answer. I’m surprised that Barber’s camp would sink to that depth. He is supposed to be in favor of bipartisan efforts.
Georgia-
There’s bipartisan…then there is selling out.
Tedski – I think you have it wrong. Matt doesn’t sound surprised about the attack. It sounds like he is explaining his reason for voting, which I like. Who wants to make a stop in Pinal Co when there are signs posted about the dangers of stopping? Not me.
Anyways Tedski – maybe you should’ve waited for the AZ Illustrated to air before making judgements… I think most of us are waiting for it to air.
Here’s what I think, it CAN’T have been a coincidence that the MOMENT that Ron arrived in Congress the first bill up for vote after he was sworn in was one that offered a terrible choice between the issues of border security (which he supports) and the environment (which he also supports). Regardless of whether the bill would help border security or hurt the environment (it would do neither as it wasn’t going anywhere in the Senate) this bill was custom designed to anger some constituents of Ron’s and make it more difficult for him to be re-elected. The Republicans didn’t really care which way he voted. They figured that if he voted for it he would be hit by his own side and Progressive folks who voted for him during the special might sit out the general (please don’t that only let’s them win). If he voted against it their custom-minted Republican candidate would batter him with his vote and cause any R’s that crossed over to regret having done so. It was a trap and there was no way to both be a man and cast a vote — which Ron did — and not get beaten up for it.
The politically expedient thing to have done would have been to have voted “Present” and then said that he wasn’t ready to vote because he hadn’t had a chance to read the bill thoroughly. He didn’t do that, Ron did his best in a difficult situation. Regardless of the way Ron voted you have to give him credit for being a man and trying his best to do the right thing as he saw it to represent Southern AZ. Ultimately I hope voters will see through the hype and understand that here is a real and genuine person, not a perfect person, not exactly going to vote my way each time, but a genuine one who is working incredibly hard to do the right thing for us.
Heinz is correct when he says the other Dems on Approps voted for the bill. That was before it was amended to refuse $$$ to Dupnik. Heinz & only 1 other dem (Pancrazi) voted for the bill on 3rd read.
Heinz is obfuscating. He did pander to the Republicans many times during 2011 & 2012 sessions.
I will be glad when this joke of a primary is over (Barber is set to win big) and our nominee can get down to the business of better defining the lines of battle against Martha McSally. Make no mistake, she is going to be a formidable foe. The district make-up may lean Barber’s way and he will have the early money edge, but McSally has the advantage when it comes to how this state and region are thinking right now. She also has a compelling TV presence and will tie Barber with everything Southern Arizonans dislike about Obama. Outside groups will also weigh in heavily with anti-Barber ads.
I like the moxis that Barber showed when he dismantled the feckless Heinz on KUAT. He also showed a lot of grit when he debated Kelly, who is a far better presenter and speaker than Heinz. Barber has also showed a disturbing tendency to pander and obfuscate when it comes to some of his early votes in Congress, whether or not he would have supported the Affordable Care Act and even his support for a Democratic president. McSally is smart and able enough to seize on those openings and deny Barber any vain hopes he may harbor about picking off voters who may otherwise lean GOP.
Barber needs to be stronger and more forthright about being the Democratic Party’s nominee for Congress. He needs to appeal to independents by laying out in stark detail the many ways that the Romney-McSally agenda would hurt Southern Arizona. In an election where the national lines of debate are going to be very stark and clear, we should be wary of anyone who is not direct with the voters on precisely where he stands.