U.S. Senator Jon Kyl Announces Re-election Bid

Experience Counts: Hes a Problem-Solve Who Reaches Out to People and Gets Things Done PHOENIX U.S Senator Jon Kyl announced his bid for a third six-year term as senator for Arizona, joined by fellow Republican and Democrat leaders who praised him for integrity, hard work, and experienced leadership. I have worked hard, and that hard work has made a difference, Kyl told gatherings in Tucson, Phoenix and Yuma on the first day of a two-day statewide swing. Yet these are serious times, and in serious times experience counts. I want to continue to put my experience to work for Arizona, and I am now in a position, along with my colleague and friend, Senator John McCain to do even more for our state and country, Kyl said. Tucson community leader Christine Olson introduced Kyl to a crowd of well-wishers at the Pima Air and Space Museum. Jon Kyl is a serious and compassionate man who listens to people and goes out of his way to seek a wide range of views from constituents and community leaders, Olson said. This is what good leadership is all about and why Jon Kyl is so widely regarded by people who may not agree on particular issues, she said. Among his future goals, Kyl said, Illegal immigration is at the top of the list of several key priorities based on my travels around the state and communications from constituents. Kyl has led the fight to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the country, from the beginning of his service in Congress, when it was hard to get people to listen, he told supporters. Yavapai County Sheriff Ralph Ogden, a Democrat, praised Kyl for introducing and getting passed legislation that more than doubled the number of Border Patrol agents and increased Customs Service personnel in border communities. We have a great friend of law enforcement in Jon Kyl, Ogden said. He worked very hard to get us 2,000 additional Border Patrol agents in the 2004 intelligence bill, and funding to pay for 1,500 in the just-passed Homeland Security appropriation. U.S. Senator John McCain is Kyls campaign chairman, and all Republican members of Arizonas congressional delegation are co-chairmen of the re-election effort. Cindy McCain, the senators wife, told the Phoenix gathering at the Thomas J. Pappas Elementary School for homeless children that Kyl is a common-sense leader with tremendous integrity. His word is his bond and he fights hard for Arizona in the United States Senate. McCain said, Having seen Jon and my husband work together up close and personal, while I am biased, I can tell you that together they make a great team for Arizona and have the experience needed to preserve our way of life. Kyl said he is proud of his reputation as a common-sense conservative ¦ who works in an inclusive manner to bring people together, regardless of their party or ideology, to accomplish serious and meaningful things that help people and are good for the country. Kyl, who just received the top rating in the U.S. Senate from the nations No. 1 taxpayer watchdog organization, Citizens Against Government Waste, said he remains committed to fighting wasteful government spending, noting that both he and McCain had to oppose our president and our party in voting against the final federal highway bill with over 6,000 spending earmarks and the massive energy bill that was stuffed with all sorts of pork but does little to address the energy crisis facing this country, while imposing new costs on Arizona power consumers. Kyl said he would continue to oppose tax increases and to make recent federal tax cuts permanent, and to eliminate the so-called death tax. His Democrat challenger has called for federal tax hikes, an end to President Bushs tax cuts, and continuation of the death tax. To address a serious energy problem and help reduce gas prices, Kyl called for strategies to reduce the number of fuel blends, increase refinery capacity, and move to energy independence for the country. As a leader for many years on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Kyl said he remains committed in a post-9/11 era to fighting the war on terror and addressing our shortfalls in intelligence capabilities. With the serious challenges our country faces, especially in the war on terror, experience counts and leadership is essential, Kyl said. Tomorrow, Kyl goes to Flagstaff and Prescott for the second day of his 2006 re-election campaign kick-off.