Representative David Schweikert (R) AZ-01, has been in Arizona this month for what is commonly called, August Recess. This is a time of the year when legislators leave their duties in Washington, DC behind and return home to the districts and states they represent. But members of Congress are not home to relax and recharge for the fall legislative session. They are there to travel around their districts, attending a variety of community events, and hearing from as many constituents as possible.
According to the latest redistricting map, Arizona’s new AZ-01 includes Sunnyslope in North Phoenix, an area Rep. Schweikert hasn’t previously represented in Congress. In an effort to know Sunnyslope better, the Congressman invited faith leaders from the area, including the Rev. Ruby Myers from Trinity Lutheran Church, to a Faith Leaders Roundtable with him at his office. Pastor Ruby was regrettably unable to attend, but she appointed Erik Andersen from Trinity to represent her, and Erik invited Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA).
In preparation for a visit with your congressional representative, it’s always wise to study up, to get familiar with his or her voting record, committees and memberships, etc. In doing so, I learned Rep. Schweikert, “David,” he asked to be called, is the U.S. representative for Arizona's 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2023 and Arizona's 1st congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he first entered Congress in 2011, representing Arizona's 5th congressional district until redistricting. His district includes most of northern Phoenix as well as Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Cave Creek.
Schweikert served two terms in the Arizona State House of Representatives (1991–1994), chaired the state Board of Equalization (1995–2004), and was the elected Maricopa County Treasurer (2004–2007). He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives twice (losing the primary to J. D. Hayworth in 1994 and the general election to incumbent Harry Mitchell in 2008) before being elected in 2010.
I met several interesting faith leaders, representing Rivers Church, Vida en Cristo, Camelback Christian Church, and All Saints Episcopal Church. We all had an opportunity to introduce ourselves and share whatever it is we wanted him to know.
What I learned at Rep. Schweikert’s Faith Leaders Roundtable
In no particular order…
“Arizona’s trusted conservative” is a personable fellow, quite charming, even handsome, very bright and in command of his facts and figures, self-assured and, I surmise, used to getting his own way, and also deeply committed to serving Arizona
Schweikert is a self-proclaimed ‘math geek,’ and as a member of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means, approaches nearly everything with a just-the-facts-ma’am, numbers-don’t-lie lens
The Congressman is not easily persuaded, about anything; it is my impression he’s one of the most hotly-lobbied congressman in Washington, not only because he’s on Ways and Means, but also because his primary focus is Medicare, and he says that “hospitals are the largest lobbyist group by far” in Washington.
Schweikert wants to be of service, he genuinely wants to be helpful, saying often, “How can I help ?” Schweikert’s Arizona office handles a startling amount of “small claims” including immigration pending cases, HUD loan, social security and Medicare issues, OPM eligibility for retirees, veterans assistance and more.
Schweikert says that, according to the cadre of PhDs working for Ways and Means, “the number of American seniors in poverty will double in the next eight years”
The United States is borrowing $72,932 per second - it’s a number he writes on his office glass wall with erasable marker every time he gets an update
Schweikert says that 33% of all health care costs in the U.S. are related to obesity.
In our lengthy discussion on the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, I had the impression it would need to change significantly to win his support. He has made a number of suggestions that were frustrating him, including changing the incentives to grow more variety of foods; making fruits and vegetables more eligible for commodities pricing; and more support for nutrition programs.
Our population is aging ~ this is not news ~ but Schweikert supplied figures: 12,000 people over the age of 65 die every day.
As vice-Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, his team just dropped the new report on July 27, which he wishes everyone would read.
Together with his wife, Joyce, “David,” a man in his 60s, just adopted an infant, and he was headed to secure a birth certificate after our meeting.
Schweikert has been involved with Native American affairs for 30 years, having Chaired the Arizona Indian Affairs Committee when he was just 30 years old. As a member of the Native American Caucus in Congress, Schweikert said he had “no problem” with supporting the reintroduction of the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the U.S. Act. When I asked him if he would urge his colleagues to do the same, he gave me a pained expression, and a non-answer, leaving me to believe I’d stepped my toes over the chalk line.
Schweikert spent 90 minutes with us, more than I expected. I felt heard. I don’t believe that I “changed hearts and minds,” but I felt that we connected, as if I could call him for something (he gave each of us his cell phone number), and he could call on me for something.