Bee slams Giffords for returning to Tucson

State Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) attacked his 8th Congressional District opponent, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) in a statement Tuesday, criticizing her for returning home after Monday's vote on the failed financial rescue bill.

"She urged Democrats and Republicans to 'put election-year politics aside' and develop solutions," said Bee in a statement, "while, according to the Arizona Daily Star, 'she hopped on a plane for Tucson to ... campaign against her Republican challenger, Tim Bee. Numerous efforts to reach Giffords were unsuccessful.'"

The full quote from the Arizona Daily Star article read: "Instead she hopped on a plane for Tucson to celebrate the Jewish New Year and campaign against her Republican challenger, Tim Bee." Rosh Hashanah began Monday night and ends Wednesday night.

"I urge Congresswoman Giffords to follow her own advice and rush back to Washington, put politics aside and develop solutions as quickly as she rushed to Arizona to campaign against me," Bee continued.

In a statement issued Monday evening, Giffords expressed her belief that the bailout bill "did not have adequate taxpayer protections to ensure a fair, long-term return on our investment." She also said it "lacked strong enough restrictions on executive compensation."

Giffords took issue as well with the way the bill was "rushed" to the floor of the House.

"As the most expensive economic program in the history of the country, I believe Congress needs to take more time to fully consider the implications of such legislation," said Giffords.

Bee, however, said he thought the freshman should be playing a more active role in the negotiations.

"My opponent, Gabrielle Giffords is not seen as part of the solution, or as part of the discussions. That is not leadership for southern Arizona," said Bee.

He also placed the blame for the crisis squarely on the shoulders of the Democratic Party.

"In 2006, Democrats promised the American people they would end business as usual. Instead they’ve continually failed the American people and have allowed a brewing financial crisis on Wall Street to threaten Main Street."

In his assessment of the necessary measures, though, he did not disagree with Gifford. Bee called for more taxpayer protections and "reform" of government sponsored enterprises, most notably Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.. He also said he wanted to eliminate the affordable housing trust fund, which, he said, "siphons off capital to fund liberal third party organizations."