FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick says she’s proud of her work on health care and veteran’s services while she’s been in office and that she hopes those initiatives continue after she leaves.
Kirkpatrick is preparing to step down from her congressional seat next week and has stopped to reflect on the work she’s accomplished in office, The Arizona Daily Sun reported (https://bit.ly/2hwyTJQ).
The three-term Democrat unsuccessfully challenged Sen. John McCain in November’s election. She’s being replaced in the 1st Congressional District by Democrat Tom O’Halleran, who beat Republican Paul Babeu for the seat.
Kirkpatrick said she stands behind her vote for the Affordable Care Act and that she hopes it continues to grow in the future. She also said there is still work to be done on improving veteran care and funding education.
While Kirkpatrick and O’Halleran agree on health care and immigration reform policies, they disagree on their perspectives of the Clean Power Plan. She said she tried to push an idea to add federal incentives for coal-fired power plants to transition to using natural gas, wind or solar, but that such an idea got no traction in the Ways and Means Committee.
“I couldn’t get anyone involved in even talking about it,” Kirkpatrick said.
O’Halleran, on the other hand, says he objects to the Clean Power Plan being imposed without a vote by Congress but also that he doesn’t support President-elect Donald Trump’s administration dismantling the plan.
Looking to the future, Kirkpatrick didn’t share any definite plans besides taking time to rest, relax and see her family. She also said she has some deferred maintenance on her home to take care of.
“Then we’ll see,” she said.
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Information from: Arizona Daily Sun, https://www.azdailysun.com/
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