For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester

July 22, 2011 505-934-5681

Albuquerque, NM - The disastrous consequences of Republican brinksmanship on the debt ceiling debate are already being felt in New Mexico, as Moody’s announced this week that if Congress fails to raise the debt limit, it will be New Mexicans who suffer from a lower credit score.

Javier Gonzales, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

“This isn't some purely theoretical debate here. We’re talking about our ability to build schools, repair crumbling infrastructure like roads and bridges, and attract new job-creating industries to our state. The President has done everything he can to meet Republicans half way. Now that the consequences of stubborn Republican refusal to reach a reasonable compromise have hit home, New Mexicans need their Governor to step up and show some leadership.

So far the Governor has been silent on this issue, but this is her own Party putting our state at risk, so she is in a unique position to influence her fellow Republicans – both in Washington and here at home with Rep. Pearce – to do the right thing. For the sake of our financial future, I hope that she will put responsibility above ideology and call on her colleagues to do the right thing.

Almost every other Governor affected by this, Republican or Democrat, has already spoken out. Where is Governor Martinez? Maybe she's just waiting for marching orders from Jay McCleskey, the partisan political consultant who seems to be running her administration from the outside.”

Unfortunately, for the Governor to embrace sensible compromise over reckless ideology will be a sizeable departure from her Party’s usual M.O. Heather Wilson and John Sanchez have publicly endorsed the Tea Party’s “Cut, Cap and Balance” Plan that is as close to public policy insanity as we’ve come in a long time. It would immediately cost 700,000 jobs, end Medicare and Social Security and slash funding job training, education and clean energy at a time when we need it the most.

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