Arizona Rep. O’Halleran spends recess working on tax reform, other issues
Aug 24, 2017, 10:35 AM
(Screenshot)
(Screenshot)
PHOENIX — For someone on vacation, U.S. Rep Tom O’Halleran of Arizona’s 1st Congressional District is one busy guy.
The Democrat’s August recess has been full. This week alone he has met constitutents and attended roundtables in the state on cybersecurity warfare, sexual violence and the opioids crisis, he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday.
Next up, a tax reform talk that hopefully will do some good in Washington, D.C. after the congressional recess ends Sept. 5.
“I think everybody wants to try to find a way to stimulate the economy a little bit better and hopefully tax reform if we can get to a level that’s representative of our needs,” O’Halleran said of one of the main tasks at hand on Capitol Hill.
“The budget has to worked on. We have a month, or less than a month, when we get back to get either get a budget out or a continuing resolution.”
Continuing resolutions were a costly stopgap, O’Halleran said.
“The Defense Department says it costs them between $3 billion to $5 billion every time there’s a continuing resolution because of their contractual obligations,” he said.
O’Halleran said he differed with party colleagues, “mostly on the fiscal side of the equation sometimes.
“… If someone is willing to sit down at the table and negotiate fairly, and try to help the American people and especially the people of Congressional District 1 in rural America, I’ll be there.”
