Giffords talks business issues with Chamber members

Members of the business community had an opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
The round table discussion at the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce was attended by people representing a variety of industries, from hospitality and real estate to healthcare and utilities.
It was a chance for those present to talk about the issues affecting their areas of business and to hear Giffords’ opinions on those same causes of concern.
The chamber of commerce believes it is vitally important that the lines of communication are always open between the business community and those who represent us at all levels of government.
There are many current issues and legislative proposals that are having a huge impact on businesses, especially during this time of economic uncertainty.
That is why we continue to work on behalf of our members to ensure their voices are heard.
Giffords spent around two hours talking to chamber members.
Among them was the chamber’s board chairman Rick Coffman, of Castle & Cooke, new board members Lawrence Goodno, of Southwest Gas Corporation, and Frank Gonzales of Lawley Automotive Group, and legislative affairs committee member John Falzone, of Budget Blinds.
Mortgage broker Joe Stroud, of E. F. Edwards Financial, raised some areas of concern for his industry, and Gail Edwards, of Sun Canyon Inn and Gateway Studio Suites, talked about hospitality issues.
Also present were Frank Moro, of First West Properties, Judy Gignac, of Bella Vista Ranches, and Jack Blair of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.
Diane McDaniel, a member of the Sierra Vista Regional Health Center’s board of trustees, highlighted the fact that a major cause for concern is access to healthcare.
There are just 112 physicians per 100,000 people in Cochise County, compared to an average of 219 in Arizona and 293 nationwide.
This means there are simply not enough medical providers to go around, leading to longer wait times for their services.
The issue of businesses being mandated to provide healthcare insurance was also raised by McDaniel.
The cost of running a company is growing on an annual basis and mandating the provision of health insurance will simply force some small businesses to close their doors.
Insurance premiums are escalating at an alarming rate, which sadly means the ability to provide employees with healthcare cover is cost prohibitive for many employers.
Giffords told the group she believes people should take more personal responsibility for their health.
She pointed out that more than 50 percent of pharmaceuticals dispensed are for illnesses or diseases that could have been prevented.
The Congresswoman wants more citizens to look at their lifestyles and find healthier alternatives. In the long run, she believes, this would relieve some of the pressure on our overstretched healthcare system.
Realtor Lee Knaeble brought up the always controversial issue of immigration.
He advocated for the immediate closure of our borders and the creation of a guest worker program where foreign nationals can legally fill the needs of businesses.
Giffords, however, said she believed the building of a border fence or wall would merely slow people down as they attempted to cross into the United States, rather than prevent them coming in.
She also talked about the current E-Verify system which Arizona employers are required to use to check the immigration status of their employees, following the introduction of the Legal Arizona Workers Act in January.
Giffords wants to see the current system simplified for company owners who already have enough red tape to wade through to stay in business.
The Congresswoman is, however, opposed to the introduction of a temporary worker program in Arizona – a proposal the chamber of commerce’s legislative affairs committee supports.
She does not want to see each state developing its own visa program, adding that she believes the business community should step up and become more involved and engaged in the immigration process.
Giffords did, though, acknowledge that some businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to find the skilled labor they need and that legal immigrant workers would play a key part in the solution to that problem.