Juan Ciscomani and Kirsten Engel: US House rivals discuss abortion rights, southern Arizona's needs

Republican Juan Ciscomani and Democrat Kirsten Engel, rivals for the open House seat in Arizona's 6th Congressional District, answered questions about policy issues such as water rights and the war in Ukraine, to district needs and what distinguished the candidate from his or her opponent.

The answers, which were submitted in writing, are ordered alphabetically.

Arizona is facing massive cuts in its water rights from the Colorado River after decades of drought. What, if anything, should Congress do to manage this issue for the state?

Ciscomani: The Biden Administration and (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi have been spending money like it’s water. Now it’s time to spend some money on water. As Arizona transitions to a new world where the two most important items are 1.) conserving water, and 2.) finding new sources of water, it’s going to take federal money and effort to make those things happen. Congress sets the budget and has the power of the purse — it needs to ensure Arizonans aren’t paying the price because states like California have refused to act and are willing to let Arizona bear the brunt of the costs.

Engel: Once again, Arizona is bearing the brunt of a national, indeed a global, crisis. The Colorado River, lifeblood of 40 million Americans, is in peril. Long known to be over-allocated, unprecedented climate change-driven drought is today finally forcing a reckoning that drastic cuts will be required to preserve the once mighty River. Climate change makes this everyone’s problem. But inaction by President Biden’s Department of Interior has made it Arizona’s problem. Arizona cannot be made to bear this struggle on its own. Other states must carry their weight. The federal government has sweeping powers over Colorado River management, especially the Lower Basin, with Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation acting as the River’s water master. Congress must pressure the Biden Administration to follow through on its promise to cut 2-4 million acre feet from their River allocations across all of the upper and lower basin states now that the states failed to come through with their own plan to do so. Congress must also act immediately to direct the use of the funding already appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Act to measures that will reduce water use in the least disruptive manner possible by building more storage capacity, switching to less water-intensive farming practices, adopting water reuse and recycling programs, retrofitting homes and businesses with water-efficient appliances.

What are two things you most want Congress to do to impact immigration or border security in the U.S.?

Ciscomani: I have a personal immigration journey to America and know the process firsthand — it is slow, bureaucratic, expensive, and outdated. Our immigration process must meet the needs of our country in the 21st century and meet the needs of our workforce. But before anything can be done on immigration, we need to secure the border. The Biden administration’s rhetoric and approach to our nation’s security has caused an unprecedented border crisis. Congress needs to appropriate funds for border security focusing on an “all-of-the-above” approach. And once our southern border is secured, immigration discussions should immediately begin.

Engel: We must secure our southern border. We must dismantle the cartel-driven criminal activity along our southern border, from drug smuggling to human trafficking. Fentanyl smuggled across the border, most often through the ports of entry, are devastating our communities. I will work to deploy more resources in personnel and technological assets to the region to disrupt and stop those activities so as to protect our southern border communities. As an Arizonan and as a member of Congress, I will also seek an increase in the number of immigration judges and more funding to reduce the backlog of legal immigration requests. We must solve one of the most persistent stressors on our immigration system: people seeking a better life in our country who have applied for immigration left in limbo for years before their case is heard.

What is your district’s biggest unmet need? What would you do to address it?

Ciscomani: A top concern of any parent today is the tragic cases of fentanyl overdoses. Just last year, fentanyl overdoses were the number one cause of death for teenagers in Pima County — and it’s not just a big city problem. This is a disturbing trend we are seeing from Cochise County to Pinal County. It’s a tragedy, and one that becomes even more alarming when you see drug cartels marketing these lethal substances to children by coloring the drugs to look like candy. Our district is a border district, and we must take this crisis seriously and tackle it head on in order to stop these harmful drugs from making their way into our neighborhoods. These dangerous drugs are destroying communities and families, and we see crime and homelessness on the rise as a result. These are the most alarming consequences of the Biden administration’s total disregard of border security.

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Engel: Our district’s biggest unmet needs are abortion access and water. In Congress I would work to codify Roe v. Wade to ensure that the women in my district have access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare and that the fundamental freedom of women to make their own healthcare decisions, together with those to whom they confide — their family, their doctor, their faith — is respected. In Congress I will work to address our water needs by ensuring all basin states do their fair share to reduce their reliance on the Colorado River and that we conserve and augment our water resources as discussed above. In many parts of this district, groundwater availability is also threatened, especially by foreign and out-of-state corporations and entities that are quite literally draining our groundwater for export and profit. Arizona’s water should be reserved for Arizonans.

After the Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion rights, what, if anything, should Congress do on this issue?

Ciscomani: Historically abortion was an issue dealt with by the states, and now it’s that way once again. Congress should resist passing a “one-size-fits-all” abortion law and allow the states to pass laws that reflect their state’s shared values.

Engel: Congress should pass a national law to protect the fundamental freedom of women to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions by codifying the rights contained in the Roe v. Wade decision. As a woman and as a mom of a teenage daughter, I am outraged that young women today have fewer rights over their own bodies than I did, and than even their grandmothers did! In Congress, I will push for this law in Congress. My opponent Juan Ciscomani celebrated the end of Roe v. Wade. Juan Ciscomani would let politicians ban abortion, with no exceptions, outlawing it, even in the case of rape or incest — locking up doctors, even trying them for murder.

What can Congress do now to help Arizona’s economy and Arizonans struggling economically?

Ciscomani: The Biden administration’s reckless spending and energy policies are causing the price of food, gas, utilities and basic family needs to skyrocket. Rising prices are hurting working and middle class families in our district the most. Before Biden, our economy was prosperous and thriving. We can get back on track by unleashing American energy to ensure Arizonans have clean, cost effective, and reliable electricity. We have to stop the bleeding — no more massive spending bills that promise to improve our economy but only hurt it. In Arizona we have seen first hand what happens when the government gets out of the way of job creators by reducing regulations and reducing taxes — people prosper, unemployment goes down, opportunity abounds.  Finally, we need to bring our supply chain to the U.S. and our Northern American partners, Canada and Mexico. This will bring more jobs to our region, and help ensure we do not face shortages.

Engel: Southern Arizona must and can develop an economy that will work for everyone. Working families in Arizona have been hit with covid, inflation and high gas prices. We need to do all we can to ensure they not only get back on their feet, but that they are in a position to thrive. As an educator and as a working mom, I have been an advocate of the education, training and retraining programs offered by community colleges, universities and labor unions that position workers to compete for high quality jobs and build life-long careers. Together with pro-family policies, such as child and elder care subsidies and paid family leave, such programs would be a powerful boost to Arizona’s economy. Arizona also has a great opportunity to become a national leader in clean energy, taking advantage of Congress’s recent investments in renewable energy generation and transportation as well as Arizona’s research universities and innovative start-ups. With over 300 days of sunshine, there is no reason Arizona cannot be the Persian Gulf of solar. Congress must also stand strong to protect Social Security and Medicare, health and retirement benefits our seniors earned and that enable them to live a healthy and dignified life during their retirement.

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Are you in favor of continued U.S. support of Ukraine in its war with Russia? Why or why not?

Ciscomani: Yes. The Ukrainian people are fighting for their freedom against Vladimir Putin.  We should enforce and close loopholes in our trade sanctions, send aid to the Ukrainians, and do everything we can — short of sending American troops, which I oppose — to stop Putin in his tracks. If Putin succeeds in the Ukraine, he will simply move on to another target, and we do not want that to happen. During a time when we should limit trade with Russia, the Biden administration has tripled the supply of oil from Russia to the U.S. We are buying the dirtiest oil from a bully state when we should be unleashing American energy, which will create jobs and ensure every American family has access to affordable, clean and reliable energy.

Engel: Yes, we have to stand up to authoritarianism and not allow Putin to recreate the Soviet empire. The United States must continue to provide security, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to address the devastating human toll taken on the Ukrainian people by Putin's diabolic invasion.

The FBI raided former President Donald Trump’s residence after he repeatedly failed to turn over hundreds of pages of government documents, including top-secret information. What should happen as a result of this?

Ciscomani: Every day we learn more about what happened in the raid, and it would be unwise to comment until we know all the facts. That said, raiding the home of a former President has not happened before and I believe that unprecedented action like what we saw demands unprecedented transparency. Every possible option should have been explored before taking such an aggressive approach while maintaining respect for the process. These types of actions should not become the norm toward opposing political parties.

Engel: This should not be a political question; it should be a matter of the rule of law. No one is above the law, and stealing top secret documents is not acceptable. The Justice Department is pursuing a legal and somber path in pursuing justice in this matter, and we as a country should respect that process. Nobody is above the law — including former presidents.

What policy issue OR what personally distinguishes you most from your opponent?

Ciscomani: In less than a year, Biden’s administration has made us less safe and less prosperous. Crime is up 22%, 2 million people who we do not know have walked across our border and into our country, Putin is in Ukraine, and drugs are pouring across our border and into our communities. Under Joe Biden’s watch, we have spent trillions and trillions of dollars in tax payers’ money on special interests and pet projects that will not ultimately benefit the majority of people in our district. We are defunding the police at a time of record crime and in turn are funding projects to force people to drive electric cars. Biden is banning gas and other clean forms of American energy. Communities in our district have lost jobs because of these policies.

My opponent will be a rubber stamp for Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi’s policies that have gotten us here. We must change course now. I am offering a different way. We can increase public safety by securing our border, we can increase opportunity for all by limiting federal spending, and we can ensure the American Dream is available for everyone. My perspective on the issues is very unique due to my background and where I come from. I have always had high respect for our country including the immigration process, the rule of law and all the opportunities it provides to pursue the American Dream. I became a citizen with my parents and have a personal experience with the process. I grew up in the district attending public schools, Pima Community College and then graduating from the University of Arizona. Today, as the only candidate in the race raising their kids in our district, I am committed to the prosperity of our community and region for the long-term. My professional experience has prepared me for this position of service — I have worked hand-in-hand with leaders and stakeholders across the district on issues of trade, infrastructure, education and more. I will continue to be present and advocate for our district like I have been doing for years. And when I’m in Congress, I will take positions and cast votes with my own children and yours in mind. I will be an independent voice fighting for the needs and values of our district.

Engel: My commitment is to guarantee abortion access. I will protect women’s fundamental freedom to make their own healthcare decisions, free from the meddling of grandstanding politicians and the interference of government. My opponent Juan Ciscomani would let politicians outlaw abortion with no exceptions, even in the case of rape or incest — or pass bans that would lock up doctors, even trying them for murder. Ciscomani said he supported Arizona’s draconian abortion ban, which provides no exceptions for rape or incest and is set to go into effect in our state on September 24. Juan Ciscomani is too extreme to represent this district in the United States Congress.

Southern Arizona has its specific needs related to water, border and economic development. Which of the many southern Arizona issues will you focus on most?

Ciscomani: My primary focus for our district on day one will be getting rising costs under control. Families across central and southern Arizona are impacted by the rising costs of groceries, gas, rent and electricity. The federal government must stop pouring money into the economy that is driving up these prices. I will work to drive down prices, get the government out of the way where needed and ensure our district has the right economic climate to attract jobs and empower job creators to grow in rural and urban communities across the district. In addition, border security, military, water, women’s health, and education are all top priorities for Arizonans. Our district is home to Fort Huachuca, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and thousands of Veterans, so national security and taking care of our veterans is critical. And as a father of 6 children, education is top of mind and an issue I believe should stay with the states and local school boards for governing.

Engel: I will focus on abortion access, water conservation and augmentation, and strengthening our economy.                                                                                   

Tara Kavaler is a politics reporter at The Arizona Republic. She can be reached by email at tara.kavaler@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @kavalertara.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's 6th District candidates: Juan Ciscomani and Kirsten Engel