Bee speaks at La Posada on primary election day

State Senate President Tim Bee said he was one of Arizona’s most effective law makers and would prioritize energy independence if elected to congress in November.

The Republican spoke at La Posada on Tuesday, answering questions and detailing the platform of his run for Congress. Bee, who has served four two-year terms in the senate, is running against Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in the 8th district elections.

When asked by a La Posada resident why she should vote for Bee, he said, “I believe I’ve been one of the most effective Arizona lawmakers — probably in decades,” citing several laws he sponsored or co-authored, including one that established felonies for human smuggling and sex trafficking.

Bee said if he were elected to congress, his first priority would be to help initiate a “move toward energy independence” by accessing untapped natural resources in the U.S. Wind, hydrogen and solar energies are the way of the future, said Bee, who also advocates the use of environmentally friendly techniques for oil drilling.

Questions from the 30 or so members of the audience ranged from the environment and Medicare to abortion and gun control, though the hot topic, as expected, was illegal immigration.

One man brought up the economic ramifications of providing illegal immigrants with medical care, saying he was worried about Arizona’s hospitals “going broke.”

“The federal government has a right to reimburse us,” said Bee, who also noted that Arizona taxpayers are paying for the illegal immigrants in our prisons, who currently make up 15 percent of our total inmates.

Others were concerned about dual citizenship, English as Arizona’s official language and immigration laws that would effect Arizona employers.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726