GRMC CEO Taffy Arias chats with Congresswoman Xochitl Torres SmallPhoto and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (NM-2), during the congressional recess, visited towns in southern New Mexico.

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, she met with several members of the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce in a roundtable discussion.

The press had a few minutes to ask some questions.

Torres Small said she is dedicated to finding ways so that "kids who grow up here don't have to move away to find their best opportunity and can stay in the home they love."

She said she received a lot of question in the session about minimum wage, about the border, "and how we make sure we are investing in our trades and skills, when it comes to education. There were questions about health insurance, about why it costs so much and why it's so complicated."

To a question about whether she supported Medicare for All, Torres Small said she did not, because it doesn't address the challenges of rural health care, "so you can afford health care and get care close to where you live. Most of my district is rural. Reimbursement rates are key to continuing needed health care in small communities."

On a question about the border, she said she grew up on the border and represents about 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. "I am the only member on the Homeland Security Committee that represents a district along the U.S.-Mexico border. I know how important it is to have a border that is strong and secure, as well as vibrant. We must have strong and robust trade, and we must make sure our laws are being followed in a way that reflects our values. We talked a lot about how we address the border challenges we are seeing now. We need to look at increasing technology along the border; we need to look at our ports of entry, where the majority of the most dangerous drugs come through. We have to address the asylum system, so it is clear, so people aren't risking their lives traveling hundreds of miles to get relief that is turns out they are not eligible for. If you're fleeing persecution and your government cannot help, that is an asylum case. How do we address people who are fleeing enormous poverty? We should invest in strengthening the northen triangle to increase their security, so that it increases our security, too."

When this author pointed out that the governments the people are fleeing are so corrupt that the money is not getting to the people who need it. "You're absolutely correct," Torres Small replied. "We have to make sure the money is being used effectively. It is clear that in 2014, when funding was targeting communities and even individuals who could make a difference, it slowed the flow of unaccompanied minors."

"I thought we had a good conversation," she responded to a question about how the people in the room reacted. "We didn't agree on everything, and that's the beauty of this country. And I think sometimes we forget that."

This author asked if there were some way to stop the polarization.

Torres Small replied: "Respect? We need people who are willing to see both sides. To see the details on the ground and base conclusions off of that and not off of a sound bite."

Gila Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Taffy Arias, who was a participant in the roundtable, told the press members that she had told Torres Small that the insecurity of government and its changes in policy "directly affect our hospital. I told her that she can help in letting the government know that it can help us provide care to patients or it can be the definite reason for the hospital's closure. We also talked about the mental health of youth in the community, and that we have limited resources for youths. We have places to provide care for adults, but not for the younger age groups."

Chamber President and Director Scott Terry, who arranged the roundtable, spoke to the press afterward.

"I would say that at least 65 percent of the conversation was everybody else in the room, and not just Torres Small talking," Terry said. "She took some fire, but we made it clear that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are not doing their job. She attends bi-partisan events and a bi-partisan prayer session every week, and she makes an effort to work with both sides. She is one of the few Democrats who has come out against the $15 minimum wage. Out of all the Democrat-represented districts in the U.S., hers is the largest, and likely the most rural. She said she does not represent any other state. 'I represent my district.' And she understands that for rural New Mexico, $15 an hour minimum wage is not sustainable. Even when it gets to our state-mandated $12 an hour, some mom-and-pop businesses will really struggle. She understands that and has heard it all over the state. I thought she did a really good job. We talked a lot about education and communications."

Broadband was discussed. Terry said that when someone puts in a telephone pole, about five years later it has to be replaced. "If you dig and you find an arrowhead, you have to call an archaeologist. And you have to do all these studies, before you can put another telephone pole in."

He said there were a lot of blunt comments about nothing getting passed in Washington, as well as about if people are coming across the border where there are no facilities, they are illegal. "She agreed, and although she does not support building a wall all the way along the border, she also knows that not having a wall is wrong, too."

"We had a cross-section of people, representing mining, internet technology, insurance and health insurance, restaurants, utilities, retail, and the hospital," Terry said. "She said she appreciated the amount of issues that came up because of the broad representation at the session. By keeping it small, everyone had a chance for give-and-take. She didn't cut anyone short, and she answered questions. We were pleased we could host it for her office."