As seen on the front page of the Abq Journal today, Governor Susana Martinez is using your tax dollars to pay for political and selective filming of the State Legislature conducting business.

That's right, she's taking state money that could be going to educating our students, and using it to try and score political points by catching Democrats out of context and using the video to aid her political cause.

It's a clear double standard, but that's not stopping Susana. Chairman Gonzales is calling on Governor Martinez to end the double standard and give the public the same access to her office that she's using state dollars to force on the Legislature - but to have an impact we need you to join your voice with his! Susana can't ignore all of us.

Call her right now at (505) 476-2200 and demand that she stopping using taxpayer dollars for political purposes! We deserve access to our government - not selectively, not on her political whims, but fully and completely.

It's very easy to focus the camera lens on someone else and sanctimoniously talk about transparency in government. It's quite another to apply the same standard to yourself. But that's the difference between leadership and hypocritical grandstanding.

There have been and will be plenty of chances for Susana to be transparent. Here are a just a few that come to mind:

When Martinez accepted $70,000 from The Downs at Albuquerque right before their pending lease came up for renewal. The public has a right to know - and would have if Martinez had filmed that exchange.

The cameras could have and should have been rolling when Martinez and her staff created new government jobs for the spouses of her Chief of Staff Keith Gardner and Press Secretary Scott Darnell

The camera should always be on whenever Martinez and her political consultant Jay McCleskey meet to discuss state business. Or when Martinez meets with Republican National Committeman Pat Rogers - who also happens to be the lawyer for Paul Blanchard and The Downs.

And wouldn't it be nice to have film of the Governor on her out-of-state junkets to places like Napa Valley as she campaigns for Vice Presidency instead of doing her job in New Mexico?

Call her right now at (505) 476-2200 and ask her why she thinks transparency should only apply to her political opponents! Together we can find out what's really going on on the 4th floor in Santa Fe!

Sincerely,

Scott Forrester

Executive Director, DPNM

ICYMI: HOUSE DEMS PROPOSE "BELIEVE IN THE BEST" JOBS PROGRAM

In Case You Missed It… Yesterday, House Democrats introduced their “Believe in the Best” plan -- An ambitious package which will not only help spur job creation in New Mexico but also makes critical investments in our future.

The “Believe in the Best” package proposes fundamental investments in energy efficiency and includes aid for communities to rebuild and recover from the devastating wildfires of last year. In short, the bills help create jobs by investing in shovel ready programs that put people to work immediately while investing in our future. This is in sharp contrast to the “drop in the bucket” plan offered by the Governor.

“New Mexico is struggling -- we need innovative solutions not only to get New Mexicans back to work, but also to build a sustainable economy for the future. With investments based on our shared goals and values, the ‘Believe in the Best’ package is a plan that everyone should support,” said Javier Gonzales, DPNM Chairman. "Governor Martinez doesn’t get it. Her Jobs ‘plan’ relies on small tax cuts for corporations, an approach that is both antiquated and too small.

“Only one party realizes the tough times New Mexicans face. The jobs programs proposed by House and Senate Democrats show we are up to the challenge of getting New Mexico back on track and back to work,” said Gonzales.

"Watch Your Representatives Introduce the Democratic House Jobs Plan!"  
Rep. Martinez overview on Jobs Plan  | Rep. Martinez overview on Jobs Plan
Rep. Egolf on HB 177 | Rep. Chasey on HJM 13 | Rep. Madalena on HB 9 
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Dems Tout Jobs Plan; GOP, Education Reform
Deborah Baker | Albuquerque Journal
Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012
...
The Democrats’ proposed home buyers energy savings tax credit plan
would for two years provide refundable tax credits of either $4,000,
$6,000 or $8,000 for buying energy-efficient homes — either new ones
or foreclosed homes renovated to high efficiency standards.

They said the proposal would generate construction spending, create
jobs and decrease energy consumption.

Democrats want tax credit for home buyers
Milan Simonich | NM Capitol Report
Posted: Monday, January 30, 2012

Egolf said the program would put carpenters, electricians and plumbers
to work and do something rare in the process — provide a tax break for
ordinary people. Legislators craft most tax credits for corporations.

Hometown banks also could profit from the program because it would
improve the market for foreclosed properties that they are managing,
said Egolf, D-Santa Fe.
Egolf’s proposal in House Bill 177. He said it easily has enough votes
to clear the 70-member House of Representatives, and he is optimistic
that state senators will back it too.

The bill was one of several job-creation proposals that House
Democrats outlined today.

Another would allocate $1 million over the next two years to help
communities recover from last year’s series of wildfires. The money
would be managed by the state Department of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management.
…

Democrats dust off blueprints for job creation in legislative session
Stuart Dyson | KOB Eyewitness News 4
Posted: Monday, January 30, 2012
...
"It's important," said House majority Leader Ken Martinez of Grants.
"The government does create jobs, and we do that through our
infrastructure, so I think it's important that we have the
shovel-ready capital outlay ready to go."

Other initiatives sponsored by the Democratic majority in the House
include tax credits for homeowners who make their homes more
energy-efficient, and an ambitious plan to hire people to help
communities rebuild and recover form last year's terrible wildfires.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ariel White
505.280.1684
Ariel.White@nmlegis.gov

SANTA FE--Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus gathered today to discuss their ideas for tax reform in the upcoming session. Senators Morales, Eichenberg, Fischmann and Wirth, as well as Majority Leader Sanchez laid out several bills that would make the New Mexican tax code more fair.

"We know we need to reform the tax code to make sure it is fair to New Mexico's small businesses and our working families," Senator Sanchez said. "We want to protect the mom and pop shops here, by making sure there is a level playing field with out of state corporations."

The three bills included in the first round of tax plans are SBs 9, 74, and 145.

Senator Peter Wirth introduced Senate Bill 9, and focuses on lowering the overall tax rate for businesses, and making sure that out of state corporations pay the same rate as in state ones.

"Its a win-win for New Mexico businesses," Senator Wirth said. "Senate Bill 9 creates one set of rules for businesses that pay the corporate tax. And, by broadening the tax base, we can lower the tax rate without impacting the state budget."

Senate bill 74 is a bill that would reduce the gross receipts tax pyramiding on business to business transactions for professional services, and would pay for the change mandating combined reporting, a reduction in capital gains deduction, and an increase in the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, and a repeal of the trade in allowance. Senate bill 145 would maintain the three percent increase limit on property taxes, which would ease the burden on New Mexicans looking to buy a new home.

"These ideas that we are presenting are not the same old push for new revenue," said Senator Howie Morales. "We are serious about putting in place lasting tax reform that works for New Mexicans and holds corporations accountable."
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January 26, 2012

For Immediate Release

Contact: Matt Ross, (505) 263-4879

Albuquerque, NM - The following is a statement from Javier M. Gonzales, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, after hearing Rep. Ezzell's comments that Native Americans who expect us to be as good as our word and honor our treaties have the equivalent of a "cocaine habit that we Americans just keep paying for...":

"In New Mexico we are proud of our diversity, especially the Native American heritage that makes our state so unique. Rep. Ezzell's shocking comments reveal at the least an ignorance of the centuries of anti-Native American policies that Native people have endured, and at the worst an active and angry disregard for an entire segment of our population.

When we fall short we should own it. Rep. Ezzell needs to apologize, publicly. But as the leaders of the Republican Party, it's also important that the Governor denounce the comments, and she really ought to require her Chairman, Monty Newman, to do the same. It's the least we can expect."

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Bingaman preps ‘clean’ power plan after SOTU shout-out
By Ben Geman - 01/24/12 11:39 PM ET

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is getting close to unveiling a proposed “clean” electric power standard – a plan President Obama admitted Tuesday night has not gained the traction that Obama had hoped.

“We are still finalizing what we are going to propose. I am planning to do that in the next few weeks,” Bingaman told E2Wire in the Capitol after Obama’s State of the Union address.

The plan would require power companies to supply escalating amounts of electricity from various low-carbon (or at least lower-carbon) sources such as natural gas, wind and nuclear energy.

Obama floated a “clean energy standard” in his 2011 State of the Union speech that would require 80 percent of U.S. power from low-carbon sources by 2035. The president, in this year’s speech Tuesday, touted the proposal again.

He mentioned the standard in acknowledging that there’s not political support in Congress to pass wider climate change legislation. But Obama noted the clean energy standard hasn’t advanced either.

“The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change,” Obama said. “But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted.”

Obama then touted other renewables proposals he’s pursuing without Congress. But Bingaman took a glass-half-full approach to Obama’s decision to mention the standard in a speech.

“He mentioned it as a way to deal with our environmental problems and responsibly with our energy needs. I think it is worth putting out there and we will see,” said Bingaman, who for months has been readying the proposal for early 2012 release.

The clean energy standard faces long odds in the Senate and even bigger hurdles in the GOP-led House. “This is a difficult environment in which to get anything major done. We all recognize that,” Bingaman said.

Asked if he would try and steer the measure through the energy committee, Bingaman replied: “I don’t know. We will have to see what the reaction of folks is.”

Grandiose House Republican Centennial Plan Falls Flat On Jobs

Nothing more than wedge issues and failed policies

Immediate Release              Contact: Scott Forrester

January 24, 2012                    505-934-5681

Albuquerque, NM - Today House Republicans announced their "Centennial Plan" for New Mexicans. But somehow they managed to almost completely overlooked what we think is the number one issue for all New Mexicans today and, presumably, well into the future: JOBS.

The following is a statement from DPNM  Executive Director Scott Forrester on the House Republicans grandiose plan for the next 100 years:

"This is just a repackaging of the same old tired ideas that New Mexicans have been rejecting for years. No one is fooled by more of the same, and no one is looking forward to 100 more years of a GOP establishment that is more focused on politics and wedge issues than policy and progress.

And to barely even mention jobs, particularly in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, is more than just bad policy. It's shockingly bad political strategy.

What the House Republicans presented today is nothing more than a partisan laundry list of policies that have failed on both a national and a local level. They aren't even giving their usual lip service to job creation, and according to their own document they don't even plan on getting started until 2013. New Mexicans need action now.

By comparison, yesterday Senate Democrats presented an 11-point H.I.R.E. Comprehensive Jobs Package that will address every sector of New Mexico's economy, and within the next few days the House Democrats will be introducing a comprehensive legislative agenda. Democrats in both houses of the Legislature are focused on the priorities of the people of New Mexico. "

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For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester
January 24, 2012 505-934-5681

Democratic Party of New Mexico Executive Director Scott Forrester’s Statement on Release of Mitt Romney’s Tax Returns Today and Questions Left Unanswered

Forrester: “After Deciding That John McCain’s Campaign Was Entitled to 23 Years of Tax Returns as Part of a Vice Presidential Vetting Process, Mitt Romney Believes the America People Are Only Entitled to One Year’s Worth”

Albuquerque, NM – After years of resistance, Mitt Romney has finally released limited information about his finances. In response, Democratic Party of New Mexico Executive Director Scott Forrester released the following statement:

“Mitt Romney has spent years refusing to release his tax returns – and though he finally agreed to do so today, he offered just one full year of returns. After deciding that John McCain’s campaign was entitled to 23 years of tax returns as part of a vice presidential vetting process, Mitt Romney believes the American people are only entitled to one year’s worth. This decision flies in the face of precedent set by previous presidential candidates – Romney’s father released 12 years of returns, President Bush released returns back to 1991, and President Obama released eight years of tax returns during the 2008 campaign. Why doesn’t Mitt Romney believe voters deserve to see the full picture?

“There is no question that Romney failed today to release sufficient information for the American people to be able to evaluate his investments, see exactly how he acquired his mass fortune during his time as a corporate raider for Bain Capital, and determine whether he has any financial conflicts that could cloud his judgment. For instance, he closed a Swiss investment account only because an advisor was worried it might cause political problems should it stay open. And Romney has made a fortune using offshore investments, from Swiss bank accounts to investments in the Caymans to Bermuda to Luxembourg to Ireland – all famous tax havens that cost American taxpayers about $100 billion a year in lost revenue. But today’s returns don't show how much in U.S. taxes Romney is avoiding by keeping his money in these foreign accounts – what else is he hiding from voters?

“Clearly, Romney doesn’t want us to know what releasing multiple full years of tax returns would reveal: he doesn’t believe we all have a responsibility to do our fair share, and he wants to continue to exploit the loopholes, special deductions and other gimmicks that he and other extraordinarily wealthy Americans use to pay a lower tax rate than working and middle-class families. With these priorities, it’s no surprise that Romney’s tax plan would cut his own 2013 taxes by nearly half. That’s where Romney stands – and that’s exactly why he still refused to fully come clean with the American people today.”

###

In Case You Missed It...Yesterday Senate Democrats came to the rescue of our struggling economy with H.I.R.E. (Helping Incentivize Real Employment) - the Democratic plan to create jobs and lay the foundation for long-term economic success.

Their 11 proposals make up the first comprehensive jobs package to be introduced in the Legislature or announced by any elected officials this year - including the Governor. And don't be fooled - the Governor's "Jobs Package" is nothing more than a symbolic gesture and yet another tax cut for corporations - it's not big enough or targeted enough to create a single job!

DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales set the tone for what this means when he said:

"The Democratic HIRE Jobs Plan addresses everything from education to incentives to lowering the cost of doing business at every stage of the production cycle. Cutting taxes by a few hundred dollars a month on a few thousand businesses is a nice break for small businesses in tough times, but it's not going to get people hiring again, and that's not good enough.

The Democratic HIRE Jobs Plan is more than just a stop-gap, more than a symbolic gesture. Our economic situation requires a plan that is comprehensive, and Democrats have met that challenge!"

Stay tuned for more to come on what you can do - on what we all need to do - to support this critical legislation and demand it's passage!

Excerpts from the articles below, or read the full version here, here, or here.

Democrats aim to trump Martinez on jobs, taxesState senators say their plans will have quicker economic impact than Martinez's
Trip Jennings | The New Mexican
Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012

...Senate Democratic lawmakers pitched several ideas Monday that they said would spark New Mexico's economy faster and better than tax cuts proposed by Gov. Susana Martinez.

"A lot of these ideas are big ideas. They are ideas that would put a 'Now Hiring' sign out in front of almost every storefront in New Mexico," said Sen. Tim Keller, D-Albuquerque. "We think it will make a difference right away."

Gov., Dems Offer Dueling Job-Growth Plans
By James Monteleone and Dan Boyd / Copyright © 2012 Albuquerque Journal on Tue, Jan 24, 2012

The package unveiled by Senate Democrats on Monday included 11 measures, more than half of them proposing new tax credits, that supporters said will lead to more hiring, companies moving to the state and less reliance on the oil and natural gas industries.

The plan includes $5,000 per year for hiring a graduate of a state university, lower income taxes for increasing the wages of current workers and a tax break on transporting agricultural crops outside state lines.

But Senate Democrats said their package of proposed legislation – dubbed the HIRE initiative (Helping Incentivize Real Employment) – would boost the state’s economy without providing “giveaways” to specific companies.

“What we’re asking in each of these bills is true investment in New Mexico before a credit goes out the other end,” said Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales.

The plan also includes Senate Democrats’ take on how to address the state’s tax pyramiding for businesses and a tax credit for private companies that give pay raises to their New Mexico workers.

Democrat senators offer jobs package
The Alamogordo Daily News
By Milan Simonich Texas-New Mexico Newspapers
Posted: 01/23/2012 12:27:50 PM MST

SANTA FE -- Senate Democrats said Monday their business this session is business.

Seven senators outlined 11 bills that would give tax breaks to businesses that add employees, expand product sales or improve wages. Another component of one bill would close tax loopholes, offsetting costs of providing certain incentives.

Sen. Michael Sanchez of Belen, the Democrats' leader, said the collective effort is called HIRE -- Helping Incentivize Real Employment. He launched the campaign last summer with the help of corporate managers, unions and rank-and-file workers.

Sanchez said one myth of politics is that Democrats are not so interested in job creation as the rival party. Never has that been true, but the jobs package makes it especially plain this session, Sanchez said.

January 23, 2012

For Immediate Release

Contact: Scott Forrester, (505) 934-5681

Albuquerque, NM - Recently Governor Susana Martinez held a press conference at which she touted her support for ethics reform in New Mexico and claimed to be a champion of ethical government. Sadly, her actions clearly do not live up to what she said, at the press conference or on the campaign trail before she was elected.

The following is a statement from Scott Forrester, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

"Any New Mexican who has followed the coverage of the Governor's first year in office - especially her work to steer millions of dollars in contracts to her political donors - must have had a good laugh today when the Governor claimed to be a champion of ethics.

We shouldn't be surprised. Sadly this Governor's actions just don't match her words. She says "I'm for job creation" but attacks proven incentives; she says "I'm against cronyism" but wastes no time arranging jobs for Darren White, Jon Barela and a dozen others; she says "I'm against judges who contribute to politicians" but she appoints her contributors to the bench.

And, Lord knows, she never stopped shouting from the rooftops that Pay-to-Play would end when she took office. Now that's become the biggest broken promise of them all.

Democrats have taken the lead on ethics reform in New Mexico for years, carrying legislation to cap political contributions, end contributions from lobbyists and government contractors and create unprecedented access to state government
.
Somehow, Susana kept a straight face through the entire press conference, at one point even saying she was appalled that elected officials would abuse their power. But just two weeks ago, the Governor rigged a bid process that gave millions to one of her donors.

The hypocrisy of it all is enough to make you think that the Susana Martinez who convinced New Mexicans to elect her and the one who showed up in Santa Fe last year are two completely different people - with opposite beliefs."

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Why Does Mitt Romney Continue to Operate in Secrecy by Refusing to Release His Tax Returns? New Mexicans Deserve An Answer From The Republican Presidential Frontrunner

New Mexicans Should Know How He Made His Money and Deserve to Know Whether He Benefits From Special Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

Romney’s Father Was Ironically The First Presidential Candidate to Make His Income Tax Returns Public in 1967

For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester
January 18, 2012 505-934-5681

Albuquerque - Today, Democratic Party of New Mexico Executive Director Scott Forrester released the following statement in regards to Mitt Romney’s continual refusal to immediately release his tax returns, which all presidential candidates since 1976, including President Obama, have done:

“Mitt Romney continues to operate in secrecy by refusing to immediately release his tax returns,” said Forrester. “It’s perfectly fair for New Mexicans to ask exactly how the Republican presidential frontrunner made his money. It’s even more shocking that Romney has called on other candidates to release their returns in previous campaigns, but has never once done so himself. This is the height of hypocrisy, and New Mexicans deserve a straight answer.”

During the last presidential campaign, President Obama released his tax returns from the previous eight years. Since taking office, he has diligently made his tax returns public.
Concerns about Romney’s persistence in refusing to immediately release his tax returns were echoed in an editorial in yesterday’s New York Times.

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