Curry County Democratic Party
U.S. Rep. Luján, State Rep. Maestas and DPNM Chair Gonzales Statement on GOP Hispanic Conference
(En español debajo)
For Immediate Release
September 22, 2011
Contact: Matt Ross, 505-263-4879
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, State Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas and Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Javier Gonzales Release Statement on Republican Hispanic Conference in Albuquerque
Albuquerque – On a conference call today, U.S. Rep Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico State Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, and Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Javier Gonzales responded to a Republican Hispanic gathering in New Mexico. After the call, they released the following statements:
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján:
“When Jeb Bush and Norm Coleman launched the Hispanic Leadership Network last year, Jeb Bush said Republicans would be ‘incredibly stupid’ to ignore the fastest growing voting bloc in America and that Republicans should ‘tone down’ their rhetoric or else risk alienating it. What Republicans don't get is that it's not about rhetoric, but about reality, and the reality is that Republicans are not fighting for Hispanics, or their priorities"
New Mexico State Representative Antonio “Moe” Maestas:
“President Obama’s record is clear - he’s fighting for the middle class and for a better future for our country. He knows that the success of the United States is intricately tied to Hispanics’ success, and he’s fighting for us all: He expanded access to education for Hispanics, is fighting for the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform, and is continuing to fight to create jobs for the middle class. And no matter how hard Republicans try to convince them otherwise, Hispanics will not be fooled by their façade. It takes more than a network and a trip to New Mexico to prove that you care about Hispanics.
Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Javier Gonzales:
“Instead of offering ideas that would improve the lives of Hispanics, Republicans have embraced the extreme Tea Party agenda that would disproportionately hurt the middle class and Hispanics. Republicans, including those in New Mexico this weekend, are on the wrong side of every single Hispanic priority: jobs, Social Security, education, and health care.
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Para difusión inmediata
22 de septiembre de 2011
Contacto: Matt Ross, 505-263-4879
El Congresista Ben Ray Luján, el Representante Estatal Antonio “Moe” Maestas y el Presidente del Partido Demócrata de Nuevo México emiten declaraciones sobre conferencia republicana hispana en Albuquerque
Albuquerque - En una conferencia telefónica hoy, el Congresista Ben Ray Luján de Nuevo México, el Representante Estatal Antonio "Moe" Maestas, y el Presidente del Partido Demócrata de Nuevo México Javier Gonzales respondieron a una reunión de republicanos hispanos en Nuevo México. Después de la llamada, emitieron las siguientes declaraciones:
Congresista Ben Ray Luján:
“Cuando el Gobernador Jeb Bush y Norm Coleman crearon el “Hispanic Leadership Network” el año pasado, Jeb Bush dijo que los republicanos serían ‘increíblemente estúpidos’ si ignoraran al bloque de votantes que más rápido está creciendo en los Estados Unidos y que los republicanos deberían ‘controlar el tono’ de su retórica para no enajenar a los hispanos. Lo que los republicanos no entienden es que no se trata de su retórica, sino de la realidad, y la realidad es que los republicanos no están luchando ni por los Hispanos, ni por sus prioridades.”
Representante Estatal de Nuevo México Antonio "Moe" Maestas:
“El historial del presidente es claro - está luchando por la clase media y por un futuro mejor para nuestro país. Él sabe que el éxito de los Estados Unidos está profundamente ligado al éxito de los hispanos, y está luchando por todos nosotros: Expandió las oportunidades académicas de los Hispanos, está luchando por el DREAM Act y por una reforma migratoria integral y sigue luchando para crear más empleos para la clase media. Y no importa qué tan duro traten de convencernos los republicanos, los hispanos no nos dejaremos engañar por su falsa imagen. No basta con fabricar un ‘grupo hispano’ y hacer un viaje a Nuevo México para comprobar que les importan los Hispanos.
Presidente del Partido Demócrata de Nuevo México, Javier Gonzales:
“En lugar de ofrecer ideas que mejoran la vida de los hispanos, los republicanos han adoptado la agenda extrema del Tea Party que afectaría de manera desproporcionada a la clase media y a los hispanos. Los republicanos, incluyendo los que estarán en Nuevo México este fin de semana, están del lado equivocado cuando se trata de todos las prioridades para los Hispanos: los empleos, el seguro social, la educación, y la salud.
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RELEASE: Republicans Playing Blatant Politics With Redistricting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Forrester
September 21, 2011 505-934-5681
Republican Legislators Upset Some Introduced Maps Don't Hand Them Automatic Majority
Santa Fe, NM - This week, Democrats in Santa Fe introduced several different proposals for re-drawing district lines. Every one of the Democratic concepts is based on four basic principles:
§ One person, one vote
§ Do not dilute minority voting power
§ Create compact districts
§ Preserve communities of interest
But Republicans are flipping their lids in protest, red in the face because Democrats--in their efforts to redistrict in a way that respects these principles above all else--refuse to go out of their way to improve the Republican Party's political prospects in next year's elections.
The following is a statement from Javier Gonzales, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico:
"It was painfully obvious today that Susana Martinez and her cronies in the Republican caucus aren't interested in protecting every New Mexican's vote or respecting minority voting rights.
They are playing partisan politics and creating as many safe Republican seats as possible. That's why the only complaints we've heard have been purely partisan, and boil down to: 'But these aren't Republican enough!' That's just wrong.
Our maps were drawn with sound constitutional principles and the best interests of New Mexico at heart. Susana Martinez has a choice to make. She can sign these maps--maps that uphold "One Person, One Vote," protect minority voting rights, and maintain communities of interest--or she can veto them because they don't rig enough seats for her political party. A veto will throw us into court, costing the citizens of New Mexico millions of dollars in the process. What's it going to be, Governor?"
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RELEASE: Democrats Focused On Protecting Right To Vote; GOP Skips Meetings and Hits the Golf Course
Santa Fe, NM - Democrats in the state House and Senate are working morning, noon, nights and weekends to protect every New Mexican's right to vote. But Republican legislators have been Absent Without Leave, skipping committee hearings and going golfing in the middle of the afternoon. Every ten years, every state legislature in the United States is obligated to redraw boundaries based on where population has grown. In New Mexico, Democrats are focused on the job at hand: collaborating by region, studying and debating maps, and working tirelessly to defend voting rights. Meanwhile on the Republican side: · State Rep. Nate Gentry (R-Albuquerque), is complaining that Democrats aren’t working, while he skips critical meetings of the House Voters & Elections Committee charged with overseeing redistricting and he and his colleagues introduce and vote for resolutions like HR 1, calling on the Legislature to do more work. · Paul Bandy (R-Aztec), Zachary Cook (R-Ruidoso), Anna Crook (R-Curry), Vernon Asbill (R-Carlsbad) and the top House Republican, Tom Taylor (R-Farmington) all took time off mid-day last week to hit the links for a round of golf instead of sticking around and participating in the debate. Missing committee meetings and golfing on the taxpayer’s dime is bad enough. But to do so after introducing and voting for a resolution (HR 1) complaining that not enough work is being done at the session is to perfect the art of hypocrisy. Below is a statement from DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester: "It’s incredibly hypocritical of the Republican legislators to say one thing on camera to score political points, but then turn around and act in a totally different way. The people of New Mexico are paying almost $200 a day directly to each one of these legislators, and they deserve to get their money’s worth. They need to take their own advice and get to work. We hope to see them in their chairs come committee time. " #####
September 19, 2011 505-934-5681
RELEASE: Democrats Focused On Protecting Right To Vote;
GOP Skips Meetings and Hits the Golf Course
Click here to watch Speaker Lujan speak about Democrats diligently working while the GOP plays golf
SPECIAL SESSION UPDATE: Democrats Re-Introduce Stack of Job Creation Bills that Susana and GOP Killed Last Session
SPECIAL SESSION UPDATE: Democrats Re-Introduce Stack of Job Creation Bills that Susana and GOP Killed Last Session
GOP Whines About Workload and Hits the Links
Last session, Democrats passed bill after bill to create jobs and turn the economy around, only to see them vetoed and filibustered by a politically-minded Governor and Republican legislators upset that they wouldn’t be able to take enough credit for any economic turnaround.
Now, two weeks into the Special Session, it is once again Democrats – and only Democrats – doing the work of job creation:
·Senator Phil Griego is carrying a bill to create a tax credit for high-wage job creation.
·Senator Tim Keller has re-introduced his bill to give New Mexico companies a competitive advantage in creating jobs. This was introduced, passed overwhelmingly, and sent to the Governor way back in April, but she vetoed it.
·Representative Mimi Stewart and Senator John Arthur Smith have both introduced legislation that would guarantee that New Mexico’s Unemployment Insurance Fund – often the only lifeline for our unemployed neighbors and family members looking for work – does not run dry.
·And Senator Carlos Cisneros has introduced capital outlay legislation that would put construction workers back on the job completing projects of vital importance. This is the same legislation that would have gone into effect back in March, and could have been creating jobs for almost 6 months now, but the Governor organized a last minute Senate filibuster to block it.
Republicans have grandstanded at every opportunity about the pace of work being done, demanding that Democrats move more quickly. But despite themselves, Republicans have only introduced one idea for job creation. They love to complain when the cameras are rolling, but they are much more interested in hitting the links for mid-day rounds of golf than they are in job creation.
Taxpayers pay each legislator a daily stipend of $171, and it isn’t to subsidize Republican golf outings. They expect the GOP to actually put forward ideas, as Democrats have, to turn around our economy and put our people back to work.
Anyone who complains as much as the Republicans do should have at least taken the time to introduce a bill or put together some sort of plan before they hit the golf course. So far, Susana and the GOP have fallen far short of their own plan that they can take credit for on economic recovery.
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Democrats Focused on Protecting Every New Mexican’s Right to Vote
Democrats Focused on Protecting Every New Mexican’s
Right to Vote
For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester
September 13, 2011 505-934-5681
Albuquerque, NM – The right to vote is sacred - protected in the Constitution and fiercely defended by every generation. And Redistricting is the Constitutionally mandated process we use to guarantee that every New Mexican has fair representation in their Federal, State and local governments.
So why are Republicans using a Special Session - with a special agenda that is supposed to be focused solely on protecting that sacred right - to push political wedge issues and distractions, while leaving your voting power and rights hanging in the balance?
Every day, Democratic Legislators are holding hearings in the Voters & Elections committee, poring over changes in population data, drawing and submitting maps for consideration, meeting with constituents and communities of interest in their districts and in Santa Fe, and hammering out the best way to guarantee fair voting rights for every New Mexican.
Republicans, on the other hand, are seemingly trying to tackle every issue in the book except your right to vote. They’re focused on anything they can use to waste time and money, all while ignoring the critical work to be done - work they are just not interested in doing.
The following is a statement from Scott Forrester, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico:
“This is the height of hypocrisy. Republicans are so busy pushing wedge issues and distractions that they’ve forgotten to do their jobs, and nothing less than your right to vote is at stake. I think that’s unacceptable.
This Special Session is about protecting your Voting Rights, plain and simple, and if your Governor and Republican Legislators don’t take that seriously then they have no business representing the people of New Mexico.”
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Patrick Davis Guest Blog: Governor's New "Job Agenda" Looks a Lot Like Democrats' First Job Agenda
This is a guest blog by Patrick Davis, an active Albuquerque Democrat. The special session is officially underway and in addition to the one thing lawmakers have to address, redistricting, the governor has also added 11 more items to the call because she thinks they don't have enough to do. Tuesday morning, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce blasted an email to its members encouraging them to sign a petition to support what they call the governor's new "jobs agenda." Conveniently for the governor, lawmakers addressed most of the items on the agenda the last time they met, and had it not been for the governor's campaign-style “my way or nothing” agenda, most of those items would have passed in March and more New Mexicans would be working today. How do we know? Because Democrats proposed most of the governor's new "jobs agenda" items in the regular session and the governor's office blocked them with shady legislative tactics, misleading messaging and just plain vetoes. Take the "5% New Mexico business advantage when bidding on contracts with state and local governments." Sound familiar? It should. It was SB19, sponsored by Sen. Tim Keller (D-Bernalillo). It passed the Senate 35-1 and the House 58-0. So why isn’t such an overwhelmingly popular bill on the books helping New Mexico businesses work for our state? The governor vetoed it. How about that capital outlay bill which the governor's office says will put more New Mexicans to work building and repairing schools, water treatment facilities and roads? In the regular session a $240 million capital outlay bill was held hostage by Senate Republicans who refused to pass it unless the governor's social promotion bill passed first. It didn't, and thousands of New Mexicans have sat at home waiting on the construction projects that the outlay bill would have provided. Need one more? The governor says the Unemployment Trust Fund is in danger of running out of funds in the next year, but she wants the legislature to continue current contributions to the fund at the same rate so that she and her "industry experts" can study the problem and propose another solution down the road. Some estimates have suggested that the fund will go dry in early 2012. This governor has had eight months to study the unemployment problem in New Mexico, and holding potential rate increases over the heads of small business owners for another year doesn't provide the stability and predictability businesses need to budget for salaries and capital spending. HB59, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo), passed both houses and provided a predictable and temporary fix to shore up the fund. The governor's partial veto wiped away the certainty that fix provided and as a result, New Mexico businesses are scared to invest in new employees if rates they pay today will double or triple down the road when the problem is much worse. Susana Martinez Chose Politics Over Economic Stability The governor is right: New Mexico needs a jobs agenda. Legislators brought her one and she refused to pass it. She bet on the economy getting worse and it did. Now she wants to claim those same ideas as her own and pretend to take the lead on job creation. Governor, we are not fooled. These bills reflect a Democratic agenda the Republican governor can sign. It is a bipartisan approach to putting New Mexicans to work. It is time New Mexicans told her to stop the campaign and start the job. This special session shouldn’t be an extension of the regular one, with all of its infighting and political maneuvering. Pass these bills and put New Mexicans to work.
This governor's new "jobs agenda" is the same one Democrats have pushed since Day 1 of her administration. But, instead of passing good bills to put New Mexicans to work, she chose to play politics with the economic stability of our state. These bills the governor says will create jobs now could have created jobs in March and New Mexico could already be on the way back to recovery. Instead, the governor wants more time to study problems and consult her experts (read political hacks).
RELEASE: GOP’s Support of Tea Party Budget Plan Would Cost 9.5 Million American Jobs, And More than 73,972 in New Mexico
GOP’s Support of Tea Party Budget Plan Would Cost 9.5 Million American Jobs, And More than 73,972 in New Mexico For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester September 7, 2011 505-934-5681 Albuquerque, NM – In advance of tonight’s GOP Presidential debate in California, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Javier Gonzales, based on a new analysis conducted by the Democratic National Committee, released an estimate of the number of jobs which would be lost in New Mexico as a result of the Republican Party’s presidential candidates support for extreme economic policies, including a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution like that which is included in the Tea Party budget plan passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this summer. The DNC’s analysis found that just the balanced budget amendment called for in the plan, if in place in 2012, would result in the loss of 9.5 million American jobs and 73,972 jobs right here in New Mexico. The loss of so many jobs could sink the U.S. into a depression the likes of which the country hasn’t experienced since the Great Depression. This new analysis looked at the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) August deficit projections for 2012 ( $991 billion deficit with CBO options for Iraq drawdown, extension of all tax provisions and Alternative Minimum Tax indexing and accounting for the so-called “Doc” fix), and using the conservative Romer-Bernstein rule of thumb that 1 percent of GDP equates to 1 million jobs, concluded that if the plan were fully phased in in 2012 and nearly a trillion dollars in federal spending was slashed, the balanced budget amendment would cost 9.5 million jobs nationwide. Because of the balanced budget amendment’s strict requirements for deep cuts, hard spending caps and a two-thirds majority to raise revenue, Congress would be virtually helpless to reverse the negative effects of these Tea Party Republican policies. Despite these negative consequences, every Republican presidential candidate, courting the extreme Tea Party vote, has come out in favor of a balanced budget amendment to the constitution or the Tea Party plan which contains one. Prior to the Republican debate, DPNM Chair Javier Gonzales released the following statement on the report: “9.5 million American jobs and 73,972 jobs here in New Mexico. Possibly a second Great Depression and devastation for the middle class, small businesses, students and seniors. Ending Medicare and slashing Social Security. That’s the price Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul are willing to pay to appeal to the most extreme and narrow elements of the Tea Party. There’s not a Democrat or Republican in this country who doesn’t think we need to get our fiscal house in order, but what this crop of Tea Party-loving Republicans has signed on to would lay ruin to our country and is beyond irresponsible. “The drastic cuts to education, health care, infrastructure, research and development, higher education, Social Security, Medicare and job training supported by Republicans would cost us millions of jobs if the plan were fully implemented in 2012 and would ensure that we aren’t making the very types of investments we need to create jobs and be globally competitive in the 21st Century. The Republican approach is like setting dynamite to your home to fix a leaky faucet – and these wrongheaded policy choices are the result of a Republican Party which has turned over an increasing amount of power to its Tea Party fringe. “Americans want real solutions to the problems we face and they want a plan to create jobs in the short term and lay a foundation for long term economic prosperity. What Republicans are proposing falls devastatingly flat on all fronts.” ###
RELEASE: DPNM Chairman Gonzales Statement on Labor Day
September 5, 2011 Contact: Scott Forrester
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 505-934-5681
(Albuquerque, NM) -- Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman, Javier M. Gonzales, released the following statement to mark the celebration of Labor Day:
"From its humble beginnings in New York in 1882 to its designation as a federal holiday in 1894, this year's celebration of Labor Day marks 129 years to the day that Americans have recognized organized Labor as the foundation of our modern democracy. It is upon the worker's back that many of today's freedoms rest and the DPNM pays honor to their service and sacrifice."
"Labor Day was founded to showcase the strength and spirit of the labor movement in the United States, and like no other time in our history, Labor is threatened by Washington special interests and those who do not believe in the basic right to organize."
"Let us take a moment amidst our celebrations and reflect on the contributions of Labor pioneers to our modern country, recognize the thousands of hard-working New Mexicans and thank those union members who carry on the legacy of Labor."
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Gov. Martinez re-certifies for concealed-carry license yet completely misses target on Jobs
For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester
August 29, 2011 505-934-5681
Albuquerque, NM - Governor Martinez and her political consultant Jay McCleskey spent the day yesterday promoting the Governors' new YouTube video showing her recertifying for a concealed-carry permit. It may help her raise her national VP prospects, but it doesn't do anything to get the economy back on track in New Mexico.
So why would the Governor focus so much on this video when New Mexicans are suffering and in need of jobs? She's had over 8 months in office, but Gov. Martinez has not pushed one jobs bill or plan.
Below is a statement from Scott Forrester of the Democratic Party of New Mexico on the Governor's latest missed target: Jobs.
"While the Governor is showing off her shooting skills for the press like Annie Oakley at an Old West Show, New Mexico's Families continue to wait for any sign of leadership on getting investment flowing into Main Street America, helping raise wages, providing necessary capital for our small businesses, health care for our less fortunate citizens, support for primary education, an improved economic environment, or really any of the wide range of issues she is so far just ignoring.
"It's too bad she wasn't shooting this straight on the campaign trail when she promised New Mexicans she'd focus on jobs and the economy if elected.”
“After the smoke settles and the applause from her audience dies down, we invite her to join us at the table where real work is being done for a conversation about what exactly she was elected to do. I don't recall being Armed & Dangerous as one of the qualifications for higher office.”
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ICYMI: Our View: Redistricting tough enough for lawmakers
In the coming weeks, this year's state Legislature will attempt what past year's legislatures have failed miserably at — redrawing congressional and statewide political boundaries in a way that fairly adjusts for population changes without disadvantaging the minority party or any minority groups.
And that's not all. Gov. Susana Martinez also plans to ask lawmakers to repeal driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, pass bills giving advantage to New Mexico businesses in state procurement, statewide capital outlay projects, a high-wage tax credit, spay and neuter funding, a fireworks ban and dealing with employer contributions to the unemployment fund. That's probably too much, given both the importance and the difficulty of the primary task at hand.
The state's history of redistricting, as retold by the Legislative Council Service, is one filled with lawsuits and political maneuvering, and it has never been quick or easy.
In 1949, state Senate seats were doled out one per county, except for the smallest counties. The House was increased from 49 to 55 seats, with the additional six seats going to Bernalillo County.
The first lawsuit came in 1962, challenging the House format. Two years later, another lawsuit challenged the makeup of the Senate. Both challenges won, and the Legislature spent the early part of the 1960s coming up with the current 70-member House and 42-member Senate.
The effort in the 1970s took several years, with a state court striking down proposed changes to the number of seats. The new lines drawn in the 1980s were found unconstitutional because they were based on the number of votes cast, not the census population numbers. It took a third special session to get the plan finalized, and that was found by the federal court to include "racially motivated gerrymandering." A special primary was held in 1984 for those districts redrawn by the court.
It took a second special session in 1992 to come up with a plan acceptable to the Department of Justice. But it was the first time in more than 30 years that the process was concluded without litigation. That streak would not last, as then-Gov. Gary Johnson rejected the Legislature's plans in 2001. The first lawsuit was filed while the special session was still taking place. All told, the litigation cost the state more than $3.5 million, according to the LCS report.
While we agree with many of the proposals Martinez is considering, we expect that the special session will be divisive, contentious and difficult enough with just the single issue of redistricting. Anything that distracts from that process is probably a mistake.