Rep. McSally Talks Defense Spending At Major Southern Arizona Employer
TUCSON, Ariz. - Martha McSally made her first visit as an Arizona Congresswoman to Raytheon in Tucson Wednesday. The company is Southern Arizona’s biggest private employer. The event is one of several McSally has planned this week in her district.
Raytheon, a major defense contractor, employs about 9,600 people in the region and many had questions for McSally about how budget talks in Congress may impact defense spending. The Congresswoman is a retired air force colonel and serves on the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees.
"I think its not a helpful debate to be pitting defense against non-defense, or if we’re gonna raise defense then we’re going to raise taxes. I mean these are all the political sort of landmines associated with trying to lift these caps," McSally said.
McSally also addressed the uncertain future of the A-10 jets based at Tucson’s Davis Monthan Air Force Base. She said they provide critical support to ground troops. The Congresswoman acknowledged that there are tough budget circumstances and there will need to be trade-offs.
The Congresswoman fielded questions about the Obama administration's proposed nuclear weapons agreement with Iran.
"I'm very concerned about this administration being willing to do whatever it takes to get a deal and I agree that no deal is better than a bad deal," she said.
