Vol. 3, No. 18
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July 15, 2006
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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On The Road With The Politicos:
The Dawn Gibbons Camp
Congressional Candidate Dawn Gibbons Continues To Fiercely Promote Border Security
Makes Second Trip To U.S. / Mexico Border, Meets With Immigration / Border Officials
For the second time since announcing her candidacy for the Second Congressional District, Republican Dawn Gibbons has traveled to and toured the U.S. / Mexican border in Arizona. "It's one thing to read about the illegal immigration issue or to watch televised reports," she said. "It is quite another matter to experience the situations our border patrol agents and military are facing daily -- where it is happening, when it is happening."
Gibbons has said for months that the seriousness of the lack of border security is a national security issue that must be faced, and the borders must be made secure through congressional action. "Our government must continue building an integrated system that includes more border patrol agents, technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), fencing, and holding facilities." Gibbons believes the threat of terrorists alone should be enough to bring this about. Coupled with the deadly amounts of illicit drugs, in particular methamphetamine that comes across the border daily, the lack of border control is a threat to our way of life, she says.
Among the security features Gibbons saw on her most recent tour of the area were UAVs and high technology sensors and monitors that lead to detection and apprehension of those attempting to cross into the U.S. "These are the types of tools that provide our people on the ground with the necessary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support they need. Poor border security is more than human trafficking and drugs," she said, "It's a national security issue."
Estimates of the numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the border that extends from San Diego in California to Brownsville in Texas are astronomical and it is believed that at this time there may be as many as 11.5 million illegal aliens in the U.S. Once here, establishing identity isn't that hard to do. Fake social security cards, fake driver licenses, fake green cards abound. Gibbons has been promoting a program that allows employers to verify a person's eligibility for employment called Smart Business Practices pilot program. For a complete look at the program, go to http://www.smartbusinesspractices.com.
The program is part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Gibbons says the program works, that several Nevada businesses have already enrolled in the federal plan. The plan incorporates the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, and part of the program authenticates a potential employee's legal status through such items as social security numbers.
Thousands of immigrants arrive on our shores from Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East daily, and many are undocumented. Container ships bring many, ships simply off-loading on eastern shores bring many, and the border crossings between the U.S. and Mexico and the U.S. and Canada allow many more illegal aliens to come into the country.
Gibbons traveled to the U.S. / Mexico border crossing at Douglas, Arizona, one of the busiest crossings of the multi-thousand mile border. She met with border patrol agents and local residents to determine what is working and what is needed to assist them in their jobs and lives. As part of her congressional bid, Gibbons has vowed to ensure the United States strengthens controls on all borders, and gives border patrol agents and the military the tools and technology they need to perform their missions.
Gibbons is also calling for better recruitment and training for border patrol agents. She said the U.S. needs to provide more and better non-intrusive inspection systems such as full-vehicle x-rays, under vehicle illuminations, and thermal vision at all border crossings to detect drugs, humans, and munitions. "We must be innovative, aggressive, and vigilant," she said
Gibbons created a Contract with Nevadans at the beginning of her campaign and border security was near the top of the list of items she feels strongest about. Another item is the protection of Social Security and Medicare for Nevada's senior citizens. Along those lines, Gibbons recently said that as the population boom from the baby-boom years nears retirement age, there is a lack of medical care professionals in the state. "There are only about 161 physicians for every 100,000 people in Nevada," she said.
"We must create more scholarships and low-interest loans for those entering nursing, medical school, and other medical programs." Gibbons feels it's important to get early medical diagnoses for prevention than waiting until a situation becomes serious or critical. "We must continue to place more emphasis on prevention and wellness programs for seniors."
Programs dealing with prevention and wellness often are not available in Nevada because of the lack of health care professionals. "Because of a lack of prevention care, as a situation becomes major, the cost of care increases exponentially," she said.
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The Sharron Angle Camp
Angle Calls Dean Heller Ad Desperate Mudslinging
Then Calls Heller A Liberal Tax And Spender
According to a press release from the Sharron Angle for Congress Committee, "Dean Heller became the first candidate to launch a negative ad in the race for the Republican nomination for Nevada's Second Congressional District." That might be considered just a game of semantics since supporters of Angle, but not her own committee have been running ugly ads calling both of Angle's competitors "Liberals," a term that ultra conservatives reserve as if it were a four-letter word.
In the Angle press release, she says, "Heller's tax and spend record in the Assembly and as Secretary of State shows a deliberate indifference for taxpayers." Heller has said in the past that Republicans should not attack fellow Republicans. In his ad, he supports his record and says he has saved the state millions of dollars. Angle says, "I am saddened that Dean is so willing to attack Republicans. Desperate politicians say desperate things."
Angle often portrays herself as the most conservative member of the state legislature and is making that the backbone of her current congressional campaign. While calling others names isn't new in politics by any standard, Angle seems to think it's only mudslinging when the others do it. She says in her most recent press release, "My record of opposing tax and spending increases speaks for itself, and my opponents' records of raising taxes and increasing government spending speak for themselves."
I guess we can just enjoy a nice mud bath on a hot summer day.
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The Dean Heller Camp
Heller Seems To Contradict His Own Campaign Statements
TV Advertisement Says One Thing, The Candidate Said Something Else
When Secretary of State Dean Heller announced that he was running for the Second Congressional District he was emphatic in saying he was going to move his family to Washington, D.C. if elected. He tried to say if he didn't have to travel back and forth between the nation's capital and Nevada, he would be a better representative in Congress.
In his latest television ad, Heller is saying that Nevada is his home and always will be. Can't have it both ways, Mr. Secretary. There have been no updated news releases offered by the Heller Committee.
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