Mark Kelly in 2020 AZ Senatorial race
On Abortion:
Against making it harder for women to access health care
Q: Support Planned Parenthood receiving government funds for non-abortion-related care?Mark Kelly: Yes. Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Will "reject efforts to make it harder for women to access vital health care services."
Martha McSally: No. Voted to let states deny Medicaid funding to health care providers who perform abortions. Supported health care plan that would have cut Planned Parenthood funding.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
COVID: supports federal aid to states and cities
Q: COVID 19: Support federal financial aid to help states and cities?Mark Kelly: Yes. "Congress cannot let Arizona cities and towns go bankrupt in their fight against COVID-19--that would only hurt Arizonans and our economy."
Martha McSally: No. "This is not the time for states and cities who have mismanaged their budgets over the course of many decades to see you, as a taxpayer in Arizona, as a cash cow."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Wrong that LGBTQ people can be married and get fired for it
Q: Support same-sex marriage?Mark Kelly: Yes. "It's wrong that LGBTQ Arizonans can be married one day and fired for that marriage the next day."
Martha McSally: Mixed. Said in 2013 she believed marriage is between one man and one woman, but later accepted same-sex marriage as the law.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Crime:
Address racial justice issues threatening Black lives
Q: Restrict police use of force and increase public oversight?Mark Kelly: Mostly yes. Would reform policing with "action, transparency, and independent oversight," and would address "racial justice issues in our country that threaten Black lives."
Martha McSally: Mixed. Supported incentives to not use chokeholds, add more bodycams, and improve de-escalation training, but not to ban chokeholds or no-knock warrants, or make it easier to sue for police brutality.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Education:
More financial aid, lower interest rates on student loans
Q: Opinion on college debt?Mark Kelly: Yes. Wants students to have access to higher education without "crushing debt" by providing more financial aid and lowering interest rates on federal student loans.
Martha McSally: No recent stand found. In 2012 opposed higher-ed funding but in 2014 said Congress should "bring the cost of education down and make it affordable and available."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Environment:
Weakening standards have been unequivocal disaster
Q: Tighten or loosen environmental regulations?Mark Kelly: Tighten. Calls loosening of regulations on power plants, drilling, and auto efficiency "an unequivocal disaster" for the planet.
Martha McSally: Loosen. Led an effort in Congress to "rein in . overreaching EPA regulations" on water quality, carbon emissions, and ozone.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Government Reform:
Refuses corporate PAC money, taken lobbyist money
Q: Require more disclosure of political donations?Mark Kelly: Unclear. Refuses corporate PAC money because its influence has "poisoned our democracy." Has taken lobbyist money.
Martha McSally: No. In 2016 voted against making it easier to see who was funding TV ads. In 2020 called for help from "conservative outside groups."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On War & Peace:
Supported killing Iranian general without Congressional OK
Q: Prohibit military attacks on Iran without Congressional approval?Mark Kelly: Unclear. Supported U.S. killing of Iranian General Soleimani without such approval. "It's good that he's dead."
Martha McSally: No. Voted against requiring Congressional authorization of attacks on Iran.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
On Health Care:
Supports a tax credit for family and informal caregivers
Q: Your Medicare/Medicaid policy? Kelly: I'd lower the cap on out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicare Part D, direct Medicare to negotiate the prices they pay for all drugs and work to make cheaper generics available more quickly by cracking down
on how big pharmaceutical companies abuse the patent system. This will be one of my top priorities in the Senate: to lower the costs of prescription drugs for Arizona seniors.
Q: And your Medicaid policy?
Kelly: I will protect and strengthen Medicaid funding, which has allowed many seniors to get the care they need. We also must take steps to allow more seniors to live at home rather than entering a nursing home by supporting programs that
provide in-home care and help caregivers. I support a tax credit for family and informal caregivers who spend more than 20 hours per week caring for the needs of their older loved ones.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Health Care:
Oppose any efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher program
Q: Your Medicare policy?A: Seniors have paid into Medicare their entire lives, with the promise that it would take care of them in retirement. I plan to keep it that way. I also oppose any efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher program, which would
lead to seniors paying more for worse coverage. I also understand that for many seniors, healthcare is still a strain on their budgets. That's why I'd work to lower the cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Jobs:
Make investments that raise wages and create jobs
Unemployment insurance, food assistance and Medicaid have all been a vital safety net for so many Arizonans during this crisis. We need to ensure that these programs continue to help working Arizonans get back on their feet, especially older workers.
And then we need to make investments that are going to raise wages and create good-paying jobs--like in infrastructure, science and technology--and job-training programs to ensure that Arizonans have the skills they need.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Social Security:
Oppose cutting or eliminating funding sources
Q: Your Social Security policy?A: I will always fight to protect Social Security. Arizona seniors have paid into this program their entire lives. For many, these benefits are the difference between a secure retirement & living in poverty. I oppose
plans to privatize or risk it in the stock market. I oppose the proposal to cut funding sources for Social Security, which could lead to insolvency in just a matter of years. Arizona seniors paid on the promise that it would be there when they retired.
Source: AARP Survey on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 9, 2020
On Government Reform:
Declined to take a position on eliminating the filibuster
Kelly declined to take a position on eliminating the filibuster, a requirement for most major legislation to get 60 votes in the Senate, which many Democrats see as a major impediment to their ability to enact their agenda.
He said only that he'll give it "careful consideration" if it comes up. "Washington is broken, and this highlights how broken it is that we're having these fights over old Senate rules," Kelly said.
Source: Associated Press on 2020 Arizona Senate debate
Oct 8, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
We've got to get on to more renewable energy, like solar
On renewables: "We've gotta get off fossil fuels. We've gone from 240 to 415 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere since the beginning of the industrial revolution, and we've got to tackle this," Kelly said. "What that means is,
we've got to get on to more renewable energy, like solar, which could be a good thing here in Arizona. It could be good-paying jobs. So, we could be on the winning side of this if we choose to do that."
Source: Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Gun Control:
The issue of gun violence is personal for Gabby and me
McSally sought to cast Kelly as operating an organization that supported liberal Democrats such as [Ilhan] Omar, which generated blowback from Kelly. "The organization that Sen. McSally is referring to is named after my wife, Gabby, [former Rep.] Gabby
Giffords, it's named "Giffords." Gabby was injured, shot in the head, in 2011. The issue of gun violence is personal for Gabby and me," Kelly said.
Source: Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Immigration:
Better border technology, not wall; citizenship for DREAMers
Kelly said he supports better technology to help achieve improved security, but not primitive technology such as a wall. Kelly said he supported a stand-alone bill that would allow young undocumented immigrants who came to the
U.S. as children to gain legal status and citizenship. "We have to address this issue of DACA recipients and give them some certainty in their lives," Kelly said.
Source: Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Demand accountability on deep systemic issues with racism
Calls for defunding police--moving government funding from law enforcement to community services--have been loud around the country. "We have some deep systemic issues here with racism in the country, and we've got to demand accountability,"
Kelly said. "There needs to be a justice system that doesn't discriminate against anyone because of their race, but I do no agree that we should defund the police."
Source: KTAR News 92.3-FM on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Jun 12, 2020
On Crime:
We need to reform policing, not defund police departments
In a written statement to The Arizona Republic, Kelly's campaign spokesman said Kelly does not support defunding police departments. "Mark believes we need to reform policing, not defund police departments," a spokesman
said. "He knows the inequalities in our justice system and throughout our society require action, transparency, and independent oversight to end misconduct and discrimination."
Source: The Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Jun 12, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
Hasn't thought much on Jerusalem embassy; seems to work
When asked about Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Kelly was agnostic. "I haven't given it a ton of thought," he said. "It's gone, it's been moved, seems to be working. A lot of the folks that were critical of it and
said all this negative stuff is going to happen, that doesn't seem to me that those things took place. But I haven't given it a ton of thought on moving an office from one building to another."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Arizona Senate race
May 22, 2020
On War & Peace:
Iran deal had problems, but poor decision to pull out of it
Kelly steers clear of criticizing President Donald Trump too harshly. He believes, for instance, that it was "a rather poor decision" to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. "It had some issues," he said, adding that "we
should try, through another administration in the White House, to get back to a deal with the Iranians by working with our international partners and our allies."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Arizona Senate race
May 22, 2020
On War & Peace:
Middle East peace achievable; won't be easy
He believes that peace in the region is achievable. "It's hard," he said. "I mean, if this was easy, we would have done it decades ago, and we would have been successful.
But just because it's hard doesn't mean anybody needs to give up. And the success of the State of Israel is just, I think, from a personal level, it's important to so many Americans. I know it is for me."
Source: The Jewish Insider on 2020 Arizona Senate race
May 22, 2020
On Environment:
Protect Grand Canyon from uranium mining
I'll never forget seeing our planet from orbit on my first trip to space--it gave me the sense that we are all in this together and an understanding of how fragile our atmosphere really is. Arizona is a beautiful state, full of treasures that we must
protect for future generations. On this 50th Earth Day, we have an obligation to continue working to protect and preserve our environment, including protecting our greatest treasure--the Grand Canyon--from uranium mining."
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Apr 22, 2020
On Gun Control:
Owns guns but favors commonsense legislation
He believes in gun ownership and is well armed himself. "I'm a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and I'm a gun owner," he said. "I own more firearms than most Arizonans. I'm pretty sure about that." However, he said many in the state agree with
him that the right to bear arms should be regulated more than it is. "I also think we need commonsense legislation that most Arizonans support to keep communities and families safer from gun violence," he said.
Source: KTAR News 92.3-FM on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 21, 2020
On Immigration:
Not for open borders but have to treat people fairly
On border security: "I'm completely on the record--I'm not for open borders.
I think we need border security. We also have to treat people fairly," he said.
Source: KTAR News 92.3-FM on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 21, 2020
On Tax Reform:
Against Trump tax cuts: need to look out for middle class
While Kelly said he is against the tax cuts Trump gave
to the wealthy--"I think we need to be looking out for the middle class."
Source: KTAR News 92.3-FM on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 21, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Develop renewable energy, but not for Green New Deal
On Green New Deal: "If we address this now and put more money into research, development of technology, battery technologies, solar, wind, renewable energy, we can start to level off the amount of carbon that we're putting into the atmosphere, that's
going to be good for the planet. It's also going to be good for the economy," he told The Arizona Republic's podcast, expressing hope for bipartisan policies on climate change. Kelly also told the hosts he is "not in favor of the Green New Deal."
Source: Environment & Energy News on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Jan 28, 2020
On Abortion:
Supports every woman's right to choose
Mark supports every woman's right to choose how and when to start her family. He'll reject efforts to make it harder for women to access vital health care services,
whether reproductive health care for themselves or critical programs like CHIP and WIC that help women and children stay healthy.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
End tax breaks for super wealthy; invest in infrastructure
Mark understands that increasing opportunity in Arizona means supporting economic drivers like trade, tourism, and the military, while also making investments in research and development. Mark supports:- Ending the tax breaks for the super wealthy
and big corporations that are exploding the national debt while not benefiting working and middle class Arizonans.
- Investing now in things that will pay off for our country down the road, like infrastructure and research and development.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Education:
Expand access to early education; pay teachers a decent wage
Mark knows that every goal we have starts with a great education for every American. That means starting young--expanding access to quality early childhood education for everyone.
That means a K-12 education system that treats teachers like valued professionals, paying them a decent wage and giving them the tools they need--materials, resources, and support to grow in the profession--to succeed.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Education:
Support post-secondary training; ease student debt
All our kids need some post-secondary training. We need to invest more in career training, apprenticeship programs and work to streamline professional certification. Mark knows what a great public higher education institution can do for its students and
our economy--and he's committed to making sure more students gain that experience without the burden of crushing debt. That can start with fully funding Pell Grants and other financial aid and lowering interest rates on federal student loans.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Support massive investment developing renewable technologies
Left unchecked, climate change poses a threat to Arizona's economy and our way of life. As one of the nation's leading producers of renewable energy, this is also an opportunity for Arizona. The sector already employs 10,500 people in the state.
We can triple that number, but only by making massive investments in research and development of technologies that make renewable energy more competitive and accelerate the transition to a renewable economy.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Families & Children:
Everyone deserves decent paid family leave policy
As a spouse who had to balance work and caring for an injured family member after his wife Gabby was shot, Mark knows that everyone in this country deserves a decent paid family leave policy--and that doesn't mean telling folks to borrow
against their own savings and then work longer and longer. Equal pay is a justice and family issue, and women of color are more likely to be subject to wage discrimination.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
Supports strong military, but must rebuild alliances
Mark will work across the aisle to ensure that nothing stands in the way of keeping our military strong and our country safe.
Mark flew 39 combat missions and understands the importance of a strong military, but he believes first and foremost in the value of diplomacy.
He will work with our allies and partners to tackle our shared threats. He will ensure that the United States remains a global leader and that our allies know that they can continue to trust us.
Mark is committed to rebuilding our traditional alliances and restoring American leadership in the world.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Gun Control:
Gun rights & safety from gun violence not incompatible
Mark is a gun owner and a combat veteran, the husband of Gabby Giffords who was nearly killed in a shooting, and an advocate for commonsense, effective gun laws.
Mark understands that a commitment to our rights and traditions is in no way incompatible with working to keep us safe from gun violence.
Mark will stand up to the gun lobby and fight to protect Arizona kids and communities from gun violence. He will keep kids and communities safer by working to pass universal background checks, to keep guns out of the hands of stalkers and
domestic abusers, and reduce mass shootings and suicides by allowing families and law enforcement to ensure dangerous individuals and people in crisis don't have access to firearms.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Health Care:
Health care is a right; supports public option
Mark believes health care is a right. Mark supports:- Ensuring every Arizonan has health insurance, and that those with pre-existing conditions are covered with insurance they can afford.
- A public health care option that would compete with
private insurers.
- Taking on the pharmaceutical industry to lower the cost of prescription drug costs.
- More transparency for and oversight of hospital costs.
- Cracking down on bad actors responsible for the opioid epidemic.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Immigration:
Strong, effective border security; protect DREAMers
Mark believes that we need a strong, secure border and to fix our broken immigration system. Mark believes that any system starts with strong border security; this includes more investments in technology, well staffed ports of entry and border patrol
agents on the border, and, where effective, physical barriers and fencing. Mark supports protecting DREAMers who were brought here as children, have been educated here, and played by the rules.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Social Security:
Social Security & Medicare are promises to seniors
America made a promise to protect the health and wellbeing of its seniors. Mark opposes legislation weakening Social Security or efforts to gamble seniors' retirement security in the stock market. Medicare is also a solemn promise made to
Arizona's seniors. Recently, Washington politicians proposed cutting over 800 billion dollars from Medicare. Mark opposes these proposed cuts. Mark also opposes efforts to change Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher system.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On War & Peace:
Services must work for changing veteran population
It's important to Mark that our country keeps its promises to our veterans. There is an urgent need for improvement. From the G.I. Bill to the VA, Mark understands we need veterans services to work for our changing veteran population.
That includes aging and injured veterans who need prompt, quality health care, and young veterans who need mental health care or are looking to translate the skills they learned from their service into a good-paying job.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
On Abortion:
Supports reproductive rights, health and gender equity
In a written statement, Lola Sophia Bovell, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, said Kelly "has demonstrated his commitment to eradicating the wage gap and lack of paid family leave giving all Arizonans the ability to lead
full lives." The organization noted Kelly's support for reproductive rights and his commitment to "the broader goal of empowering people through health and gender equity by supporting comprehensive sex education, equal pay, and curbing gun violence."
Source: Arizona Mirror on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Nov 14, 2019
On Immigration:
Senate should pass path to citizenship for DREAMers
Kelly said the Senate should immediately pass legislation that provides a path to citizenship for the "Dreamers." He likened young peoples' contributions to this country to those of his own children. "Dreamers have grown up here, gone to school here,
and are contributing to their communities--just like my kids," Kelly said in a written statement. "That Dreamers could once again face uncertainty over their status is a total failure by Washington and bad for Arizona."
Source: Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Nov 12, 2019
On Health Care:
Allow Medicare buy-in; limited public option
Kelly said his wife also taught him tenacity as she recovered from a devastating head wound after she and several other people were shot in Tucson in 2011. "I still think how much more difficult that fight would have been if Gabby did not have good
health care coverage," he said. He pledged to expand health care access and reduce costs for families by allowing people nearing retirement to buy into Medicare and allowing a public health care option in areas where there isn't enough competition.
Source: Casa Grande Dispatch on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Nov 7, 2019
On Health Care:
Medicare needn't be barred from negotiating drug prices
Kelly said that Congress could do more to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. "There's a lot we can do as a country, especially when you consider Medicare Part D buys 30% of the medication that our country consumes. HHS should be able to reduce the
price of those drugs," Kelly said. "It's currently prohibited for them to negotiate the price of prescription medication, but it doesn't have to be that way."
Source: Arizona Daily Star on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Sep 19, 2019
On Foreign Policy:
Committed to rebuilding alliances & restoring US leadership
Mark flew 39 combat missions and understands the importance of a strong military, but he believes first and foremost in the value of diplomacy. He will work with our allies and partners to tackle our shared threats. He will ensure
that the United States remains a global leader and that our allies know that they can continue to trust us. Mark is committed to rebuilding our traditional alliances and restoring American leadership in the world.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
May 2, 2019
On Social Security:
Don't weaken Social Security; nor gamble retirement funds
America made a promise to protect the health and wellbeing of its seniors. Mark will fight to ensure that America keeps that promise to Arizonans. Over lifetimes, workers and small businesses have contributed into Social Security and Medicare so workers
could have a secure retirement that includes health care. Many Arizona seniors rely on Social Security as a key source of income. Mark opposes legislation weakening Social Security or efforts to gamble seniors' retirement security in the stock market.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
May 2, 2019
On Health Care:
Employer health insurance should stay; improve care access
"We have 156 million Americans who get their health insurance through their employer, and that shouldn't go away," Kelly said in the 12 News interview. "I mean, we're not going to be able to promise these folks something better. "So, clearly, we
should be able to provide access to affordable health care for everybody, but I am not in favor for the 156 million of us that get our health care through our employer to make that go away," he added.
Source: The Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Apr 22, 2019
On Immigration:
Secure the southern border without demonizing migrants
Kelly laid out some of his political positions. He talked about the need to combat climate change and deal with immigration. "You know, it is long past time we fix our broken immigration system. Join us. And if you believe that securing our border, but
doing it smartly and not demonizing people and breaking up families, join this mission," he said. Kelly is hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Martha McSally. Gov. Doug Ducey appointed her to the seat held by John McCain in December.
Source: Arizona Public Media on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 25, 2019
On Health Care:
Ensure healthcare access, unsure of single-payer care
Kelly said, "Often it happens when they don't have health care coverage and it is devastating to them and their families. It often ruins their lives." The top priority, said Kelly, is ensuring that people have access to health care and do not lose their
coverage for pre-existing conditions. But he balked at whether he supports some type of single-payer system where the government is responsible for coverage for all residents. "I don't know," he said. "I'm going to have to figure this out over time."
Source: Arizona Capitol Times on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 12, 2019
On Gun Control:
A gun is designed for one thing--to kill
If you're an elected official speaking out on a topic, it boosts your credibility when you can do so intelligently. Sometimes, you can tell when lawmakers aren't as familiar with firearms. But a gun is a pretty simple thing. It's not a fighter jet.
It's not a spaceship. It's a basic instrument designed for one thing--to kill. I don't think we need 80-year-old legislators to go out to the shooting range in order to participate in this debate. They understand the consequences already.
Source: Gentleman's Quarterly on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Nov 2, 2018
On Gun Control:
Gun control is a political issue and we need to have a vote
"These kids [Parkland High School students] are incredibly articulate. And some members of Congress are good at not listening. To have high school kids calling for change, it should matter. And I hope in society this will make a difference,"
Kelly told "Fox News Sunday" minutes after five students from Florida's Stoneman Douglas High School said on the show that they are trying to organize nationwide demonstrations for March 24. "This is a political issue," he said. "We need to have a vote."
Source: Fox News Sunday 2019 interview on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 18, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Trump withdrawal from Paris Accords sets back U.S. progress
This year has been an unequivocal disaster for the future of the planet. President Donald Trump has managed to take a wrecking ball to years' worth of hard work and painstaking negotiations. If not undone, our retreat from the Paris Climate Accords and
the EPA's Clean Power Plan alone mean our planet's temperature will rise at a greater rate and our citizen's health will degrade. Other changes in environmental regulations on drilling and auto and appliance efficiency will only make matters worse.
Source: CNN coverage/(OpEd by candidate) on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Dec 27, 2017
On Gun Control:
Congress has done absolutely nothing to stop gun violence
"All we're hearing is thoughts and prayers. Thoughts and prayers are important," said Kelly said but added that they fell short. "They are not enough.
Your thoughts and prayers aren't going to stop the next shooting." The former astronaut charged that Congress has done "absolutely nothing" to stop further acts of gun violence and instead is working to craft legislation to "weaken our gun laws."
Source: CBS News on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 2, 2017
On Principles & Values:
Wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords, survived assassination attempt
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is the only patient from Saturday's shooting who remains in critical condition, although she was responsive to commands this morning. In a detailed press conference, hospital officials said that Giffords is sedated and
is being awakened periodically so doctors can see how she is progressing.Officials said she is fortunate because the single bullet that struck her during the shooting rampage at a supermarket north of Tucson did not pass through both hemispheres.
The bullet entered through the back of her skull on her left side and exited through the front. The gravest danger now is swelling of her brain. Doctors have removed about half of her skull on the left side to alleviate the pressure.
Doctors said while Giffords' progress is promising, they don't know what future deficits might result from being shot in the head.
Her husband, veteran astronaut Mark Kelly, is at her side. Some family friends have been allowed in to visit.
Source: Tucson Citizen on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Jan 9, 2011
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2020