The 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. District 16 represents most of El Paso County, minus some neighborhoods in the eastern portions of the Lower Valley and East Montana. U.S. representatives get paid $174,000 per year and serve two-year terms.
Who’s running for this seat?
Irene Armendariz Jackson, 54, a Republican, is a realtor and small business owner.
Veronica Escobar, 55, a Democrat, is the incumbent District 16 U.S. Representative
Candidate Questionnaires
Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words. Responses have been lightly edited for grammar.
Please describe your political values and how you would apply them in making decisions for your constituents.
Irene Armendariz Jackson: I am conservative and that means that I will always vote for policies that limit government and lower taxes.
Veronica Escobar: My goal is to secure substantial federal funding for projects in El Paso, while also working to pass legislation to address pressing issues in our country such as immigration reform, reproductive rights, equality, access to healthcare, economic mobility, and more. To date, I have secured more than $1 billion in federal funding for countless projects within our community.
Strengthening the economy is a top policy goal for Americans. What policies would you propose or support to ensure economic progress and job growth?
Irene Armendariz Jackson: We need to stop the frivolous spending and deregulate. The economy thrives when taxes are low and companies are able to create jobs. The manufacturing industry is crucial for El Paso and I will spend much of my time advocating for manufacturing companies to come back to El Paso. Also, El Paso suffers from a brain drain, many college graduates leave because we don’t have good job opportunities for them. This is the consequence of Democrats’ policies in El Paso for over 60 years.
Veronica Escobar: I have supported legislation to create tax reform which will build the middle class and eliminate poverty, raise wages, increase affordable access to higher education, and also create good jobs.
Much has been said about the rising price of groceries, gas and other goods and services. What should Congress do to address this?
Irene Armendariz Jackson: First, the spending needs to stop. The Congressional Budget Office now expects the debt to be $7.2 trillion higher than it had projected all because of Biden’s and the Democrats’ reckless spending policies. The debt is up $7.9 trillion in less than four years of Biden’s tenure and rising. Second, deregulating the oil industry making gasoline less expensive to produce will have a huge impact on the cost of goods. The rising cost of oil will always lead to higher cost of goods because the transportation industry will pass that cost on to the consumer.
Veronica Escobar: Inflation is at pre-COVID lows, the Fed just lowered interest rates by half a percent, and the US economy continues to rebound. But we still have work to do to lower the costs Americans are feeling. When House Democrats were in the majority and passed the expanded Child Tax Credit, we saw childhood poverty decline and families had more money in their pocket to deal with the costs of raising a family. I am committed to reviving the expanded Child Tax Credit, and other programs like paid family and medical leave, Universal pre-K, access to the high-quality affordable child care, and other benefits that will help families’ pocketbooks.
Immigration remains a top challenge in Congress. What policy changes would you support to address current immigration issues?
Irene Armendariz Jackson: First, I support mass deportations. As the daughter of legal Mexican immigrants, I know our immigration laws work. Second, I will support sanctions against Mexico until they stop the people at their southern border. Mexico’s main supply of gas comes from a refinery in Houston.We can cripple Mexico and force them to act. Third, we should restrict asylum laws to those who fully fit the criteria ensuring these laws fully protect the persecuted, while also upholding the immigration system.
Veronica Escobar: I would encourage my colleagues to join my bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill that addresses root causes of migration, pathways to legalization, and common sense border security, The Dignity Act.
Aside from the economy and immigration, what is your top priority and how would you address it?
Irene Armendariz Jackson: Lowering taxes for El Paso residents is one of my top priorities. El Paso has very high property taxes and this puts an unnecessary burden on homeowners. Every project, from the school districts to the county, are funded by the property owners. Bringing large companies to El Paso will subsidize taxes and create jobs with high salaries. As a Realtor, I know we have inflated values of homes. I will work with local officials to ensure this abuse stops. I’m ready to debate my opponent.
Veronica Escobar: Healthcare continues to be a major issue among Americans nationwide. Not only do we need to expand access to affordable care, but we need to protect reproductive rights, access to medicare and medicaid, and other provisions that the Republicans have vowed to repeal if elected, because of Project 2025.
The post Q&A: District 16 U.S. representative candidates in Nov. 5 general election appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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