Rebecca Rios

Rebecca Rios

Rios, Rebecca (Democrat)

Phone: (602) 540-4043

Email: rebecca_rios@hotmail.com

1440 N. Idaho Rd., Apache Junction , AZ 85219
(Mail: PO Box 11, Apache Junction, AZ 85219)

Age: 43 (6/4/67, Tucson, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Did not respond.

Marital: Married.

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: M.S.W, ASU, 2003; B.S.W, social work, ASU, 1989.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman; active member of Pinal County Democrats; AZ Senate since 2005, asst Democratic leader since 2009, Democratic whip 2007-08; House 1995-01.

Interests: Children’s issues, reading, travel.

Issues:

Political influence: My father, Pete Rios, former Arizona Senate president.

Budget recommendations: Rein in some of the $10 billion in tax exemptions that we forego every year. We could rein even just a small fraction of that. That includes food and health care, although I would not want us to tax those. But, you’ve got all the country club memberships, the pedicures, the manicures, and the dog grooming. There are a lot of sales tax exemptions that we have put on the books that I think we need to look at. The other recommendation I would make is to either eliminate or at least temporarily suspend all the tax credits that we have on the books.

Other concerns: We need to refund education. We need to undo the massive cuts that were done to education and look at how we fund and prioritize education long term. The second issue is ensuring both physical and mental health coverage for Arizonans. Again, [that is] undoing the damage that was done by the Republicans in terms of taking thousands of people off of health care and mental health care.

Fiscal philosophy: I believe government has a role in providing basic, necessary public safety, health and education. I think government should not be in the business of corporate welfare and all of the corporate loopholes and subsidies that we’ve historically given and that have contributed to our financial deficit.

Background & experience: I have been in the Legislature 12 years now and I think I have a very keen understanding of the families and communities in my district and their particular needs. Not only having been a resident of my district but also a social worker, I think that has given me a breadth of experience in advocating for what communities both want and need.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I opposed sending the question to the ballot because I know that there were many other ways that we could have brought in revenue without implementing a regressive sales tax that hurts working Arizonans.

Pro-life/pro-choice: I am pro-choice.

One last thing: I am a married mother of two that has voted [in my] professional and political career to seek to empower the families and communities of Arizona. And as a fourth-generation Arizonan, I have a huge stake in Arizona.

Campaign Finance: public.