Socorro County Democratic Party
Thoughts from Chairman Sam
On Saturday, I was honored to give the keynote address to the State YD Convention, here in Albuquerque. Nothing is more exciting than seeing Young Democrats at work, showing their excitement and passion for the Democratic Party. These young men and women are our future leaders, not only for New Mexico but for the nation.
The Democratic Party supports affordable options to help with student loans, like the law President Obama signed in 2010 that allows students to lower their rates to 10% of their income, which caps student loan repayments. The Affordable Care Act eliminated pre-existing conditions for minors and allows the option to stay on a parent or guardian’s health plan until the age of 26. More choices, more options, more freedom while making plans for the future.
DPNM endorses all efforts to defeat voter suppression--the Republican war on voting. Photo ID bills passed by Republican legislatures and signed by Republican Governors have one goal—prevent youth, seniors and minorities from exercising their constitutional right to vote. Our party supports full inclusion for EVERYONE, excluding NO ONE.
We need, want and support YD energy, passion and involvement in all aspects of the state Democratic Party. DPNM is ready for Young Democrats to help us BUILD THE FUTURE.
NEW LOOK, NEW FEEL
Hope you like our new logo! DPNM Facebook and Twitter sites have incorporated this logo already and it will be on the website soon. Look for more changes in the coming months. We’re just getting started!
47 Bills Head To Gov Martinez's Desk
As 47 bills head to Governor Martinez's desk, Democratic legislative leadership has blazed a path forward for our state.
VOTE ALERT: Congressman Pearce Just Voted In Favor of Sequester
Congressman Steve Pearce just voted in favor of the sequester – a series of devastating and arbitrary budget cuts that will eliminate 750,000 jobs, force furloughs and throw a wet blanket on the economy. Instead of the sequester, House Democrats have tried to end taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil companies and tax breaks for millionaires, but Congressman Pearce said no.
“The sequester is here and Congressman Steve Pearce is one of the few people in the country who thinks it should stay,” said Emily Bittner of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Americans are already seeing job losses, military cutbacks and longer airport lines, but Congressman Pearce would rather protect tax breaks for the well-connected than stop the damage to our middle class. The people of New Mexico want a balanced solution – but Congressman Pearce and his Tea Party extremists said no. There’s now no doubt or debate: Congressman Pearce voted in favor of the sequester and was unwilling to stop the worst effects of these disastrous cuts on the people of New Mexico because tax breaks for Big Oil companies and millionaires are more important to him.”
Before today, Democrats have offered multiple times balanced alternatives that would replace the arbitrary sequester approach with a thoughtful and balanced budget plan that cuts spending and eliminates tax breaks for the well-connected in a way that is not harmful to the economy. Each time, House Republicans refused to vote on these plans.
News outlets across the nation have covered the sequester’s impact, and below is a sampling of headlines about the impact:
- · General: With cuts, Marine Corps will 'cut into bone' [USA Today, 3/4/13]
- · Sequester already causing long lines at airports, Napolitano says [CBS News, 3/4/13]
- · Former NIH director: The sequester will set back medical science for a generation [Washington Post, 2/21/13]
- · College aid cuts will send parents and students scrounging [Reuters, 3/4/13]
BACKGROUND
Congressman Pearce voted against stripping a measure out of the Continuing Resolution that explicitly calls for keeping the indiscriminate cuts of the sequester. [HR 933, Vote #61, 3/06/13]
According to Roll Call newspaper, the Continuing Resolution “Keeps Sequester Cuts in Place” [Roll Call, 3/4/13]
According to the New York Times, “Boehner halts Talks on Cuts, and House G.O.P. Cheers” [New York Times, 3/1/13]
A February 21st USA Today/Pew poll found 76 percent of Americans favor the a balanced approach for addressing the budget deficit while only 19 percent of Americans agree with the approach of Congressional Republicans, to address the deficit through spending cuts alone. [USA Today, 2/21/13]
House Republicans Previously Voted Three Times to Deny Consideration of Replacing the Entire Sequester with a Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction.
TONIGHT: Thanks to Congressman Pearce, People of New Mexico Begin Paying a Huge Price with Sequester
Starting tonight, the people of New Mexico will begin paying a huge price for Congressman Steve Pearce choosing Tea Party extremism over compromise on balanced budget cuts and refusing to stop the sequester. Republican leaders again failed to compromise today, deciding it was more important to keep tax breaks for millionaires and Big Oil companies instead.
Democrats repeatedly offered balanced alternatives to sequester that reduced the deficit, but each time, Congressman Pearce and his radical Tea Party Congress said no.
Because Congressman Pearce failed to solve sequester, thousands will be furloughed, travelers will face longer lines at the airport, 70,000 children will lose Head Start, 7,750 customs and border protection agents could be laid off, more than 250,000 Army employees could be furloughed and 14,000 teachers and school employees could lose their jobs.
“Families in New Mexico are facing another blow to this economy that could cost 700,000 jobs, and they are outraged that Congressman Pearce made it happen – allowing a manufactured crisis to become a real one,” said Emily Bittner of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Americans expect their leaders to come to the table and work on solutions, but Congressman Pearce continues to be part of the problem – this Tea Party Republican Congress. The only people Congressman Pearce’s sequester protects are millionaires and Big Oil corporations.”
For more details on the effects of sequester, see here and here.
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RELEASE: Gov Job Has Its Perks - Martinez Approved, Helped Design $100k Taxpayer Funded Mansion Kitchen
February 26, 2013
Contact: Matt Ross (505) 263-4879
Albuquerque, NM - When it comes to priorities, here's an idea we should all be able to agree on: fully fund and equip New Mexico's halls of justice so that judges and law enforcement officials can do their jobs getting dangerous people off the streets. Or how about this: don't take $6 million dollars of direct-to-classroom funding away from schools that are already overcrowded.
But even when it comes to commonsense policies like these, Gov. Susana Martinez can find all kinds of reasons to be stingy with the state's checkbook. She based her whole campaign on railing against the symbolism of the previous Governor's expenditures - whether it was a state plane (in the 5th largest state in the nation) or the Governor's personal staff at the mansion. It wasn't that her reforms would save any meaningful money - they haven't. It was the principle!
Or so we were told. Sadly, Susana's stinginess apparently only applies to matters like education for our kids. When it comes to bankrolling her highfalutin Santa Fe lifestyle, Susana, it seems, can't resist dropping some taxpayer coin on the finer things in life.
According to this story on KRQE, Susana approved and had input on "...more than $100,000 last summer to renovate the public kitchen at the governor’s mansion in Santa Fe, according to officials and purchase orders. And while the upgrades included new countertops, floors and appliances, the project also included a $2,700 built-in, state-of-the-art coffeemaker..."
As Stuart Ingle (R) said, "Hope it makes damn good coffee."
As Dick Knipfing said, "That's a lot of money for any kitchen."
As Governor Susana Martinez said, "It was OK with me whatever they did..."
The most outrageous part of this story? Once KRQE caught on to the Governor's private slush fund, Susana put the spin machine in high gear. According to the story, "After KRQE News 13 began asking questions about the coffeemaker, a governor’s office spokesperson said private donors would now be asked to pay for the appliance, rather than taxpayers."
"So in other words, until she got caught, Susana had no problem whatsoever with using our money to renovate the kitchen at her place at the same time she was taking money away from our schools and law enforcement officials," said Scott Forrester, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
Forrester added, "Promise one thing, get folks to vote for you, do another. It's a formula that Susana seems all too comfortable with. Maybe being Governor really changes a person. Maybe the power just went to her head. Or, maybe, she never meant a word she said on the campaign trail. Either way, New Mexicans get to have their say next November and they aren't likely to forget the Governor's hypocrisy. After all, it's not the amount, it's the principle."
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- Attracting more jobs to the state is high on her agenda but Ms. Martinez was proud to let go the two personal chefs who had been working at the Governor’s Mansion while Mr. Richardson lived there. Asked who prepares meals these days, she put up her hand. (In her State of the State address in January, she received laughs by saying of her husband, Chuck Franco, a longtime law enforcement officer, “The first gentleman will just have to help out with the cooking.”) - NY TIMES - "New Mexico Governor Rushes to Undo the Agenda of Her Predecessor" - Aug 29, 2011
- "Tax dollars should not be wasted on a stable of chefs at the governor's residence," Martinez said in a statement. "This is a prime example of wasteful spending that exists in state government." - Abq Journal -
" Governor's Private Chefs Are Toast" - Jan 5, 2011
MARTINEZ: Appointments. Exactly. And Governor Richardson had grown the number of exempt employees by over 340. I have it down to I think 212 at this time. I got rid of the two chefs that were assigned to the residence. We sold the jet that Governor Richardson had purchased. We sold the jet in addition to four other planes. We cut the exempt employees. No one was going to earn more than $125,000 for cabinet secretary. And we were going to cut back on salaries significantly. I mean, we went through the budget tooth and nail, from cell phones and takehome cars. And I put a moratorium on the purchase of brand-new cars for two years. I mean, we went through it in a way that had never been done before. We balanced it, and we got a surplus." - Greta Van Susteren Interview: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/
on-the-record/2012/12/04/new- mexico-gov-susana-martinez- future-gop#ixzz2M20v4H6i
With Crisis Looming, Congressman Pearce Skips Town
With millions of jobs on the line, Congressman Steve Pearce voted with his Tea Party colleagues today to skip town without a solution to the sequester crisis – because Tea Party House Republicans would rather protect millionaires than prevent devastating cuts to defense and key domestic investments like medical research, the Army Corps of Engineers, Headstart and job training.
After forcing this scheme on the American people, House Republicans have refused to even try to stop it before it takes effect on March 1. Just today, Congressman Pearce’s Tea Party House Republicans adjourned without adopting a compromise to prevent countless layoffs.
“Democrats are trying to put the brakes on this manufactured crisis – but Congressman Pearce and his Tea Party colleagues won’t budge from protecting millionaires over the middle class, even with millions of jobs on the line,” said Emily Bittner of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Democrats are shouting from the mountaintops that we can’t go home to our districts without a solution in place, and we’ve offered alternative plans with a balanced approach to fixing our budget. The days of Congressman Pearce’s dysfunctional Congress that refuses to govern must end – the American people cannot afford House Republicans anymore.”
Background
Congressman Pearce voted to adjourn without a solution to the sequester. [H Con Res 15, Vote #43, 2/15/13]
Sequester Would Cost Economy 2.14 Million Jobs. According to a 2012 study by George Mason Professor Stephen Fuller, the automatic spending cuts affecting Department of Defense and non-Department of Defense discretionary spending would:
- · Reduce the nation’s GDP by $215 billion;
- · Increase national unemployment by 1.5 percent;
- · Cost the U.S. economy 2.14 million jobs.
[The Economic Impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on DOD & non-DOD Agencies, Professor Stephen Fuller, 7/17/12]
Tea Party House Republicans are blocking alternatives. Tea Party Republicans have blocked Democrats’ efforts to bring an alternative to sequester to the floor for a vote four times. [Rep. Van Hollen release, 2/14/13]
CBO: Sequester Will Slash 2013 Economic Growth In Half. According to the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch: “Fiscal tightening including the automatic budget cuts known as the sequester would cut U.S. growth in half in 2013 if allowed to go into effect, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday in a new budget and economic outlook. … CBO said Tuesday that growth would be about 1.5 percentage points faster in 2013 if not for fiscal tightening including the sequester.” [MarketWatch,2/5/13]
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DPNM Applauds Passage of Democrat Lead Bill on Closing of Gun Show Loophole
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2013
Contact: Matt Ross - 505 263 4879
Albuquerque, NM - Today on a 43 to 26 vote House Democrats passed House Bill 77, which closes New Mexico’s gun show loophole and ensures that court records regarding dangerous persons with mental illness are reported to the instant background check system.
Below is a statement from DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzlaes on this bill passing the House:
"On behalf of all the New Mexicans who have been personally impacted by gun violence, I want to thank Representative Miguel Garcia
It's never easy to step up to the plate on tough issues, but Democrats in the House are looking out for what's best for New Mexicans, and that's the kind of integrity we need to move this state forward. Their hard work has paid off, and we are one step closer to taking action to prevent gun violence in New Mexico.
DPNM applauds this vote, we hope Republicans in Santa Fe will join us in putting politics aside to move forward together."
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RELEASE: NM Public Education For Sale to Highest Bidder
For Immediate Release
January 31, 2013
Contact - Matt Ross (505) 263-4879
The business of the foundation is to promote public policy that takes taxpayer money out of the public schools and puts it into the pocket of private corporations, getting us little or nothing in return.
Right here in New Mexico, Hanna Skandera gives the foundation broad access and power - even to the extend of re-writing education legislation to better benefit the foundations corporate funders. This is the damning excerpt from the article laying out exactly how far Skandera was willing to go to let this out of state corporate front group remake our education policy:
• FEE staff served as advisers to acting education commissioner Hanna Skandera. FEE, and, by extension, its donors, had great influence over New Mexico legislation. In a Jan., 2011, e-mail, Skandera directs a staffer from the legislature to forward all education bills to FEE’s Christy Hovanetz for edits: “Can you send all Governor’s office ed bill language to Christy, including social promotion?” Another FEE staffer, Mary Laura Bragg, wrote to Skandera, “I’m at your beck and call.”
• The foundation sought to make connections between Skandera (as well as the other Chiefs for Change) and the Hume Foundation for funds for digital learning projects from Hume that “must flow through the Foundation for Excellence in Education as a project-restricted grant.” The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Oct. 21 that Skandera had indeed applied for such a grant, which ultimately could lead to digital learning legislation favorable to FEE funders Connections Academy and K-12 Inc.
• The e-mails indicate that FEE paid for Skandera’s travel, reimbursing New Mexico $3382.91 for her expenses, including trip to Washington, D.C., to testify before Congress.
"Secretary-Designate Skandera was given a sacred trust and a clear directive to look out for the interest of our children above all. She's taken that trust and sold it off to the highest bidder, giving some out-of-state foundation access and power to do the bidding of a few corporations that stand to gain billions of dollars from the slow privatization of the American Public School system," said Scott Forrester, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
"That's a clear violation of her duty to New Mexico's schoolchildren. We can't trust her to look out for our kids, and I think Susana Martinez needs to step up to the plate here and show some leadership. Unless Skandera was doing this with Susana's full knowledge and approval, in which case this just raises the stakes on the 2014 election that much more," Forrester added.
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BACKGROUND: WaPo Story Here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Will Congressman Steve Pearce Stand Up to the Tea Party on Immigration?
Will Congressman Steve Pearce Stand Up to the Tea Party on Immigration?
Senate Republicans joined with Democrats yesterday to announce a bipartisan immigration reform proposal that is tough, fair and practical.
Despite the bipartisan support, the only group that isn’t willing to compromise on immigration reform appears to be Congressman Steve Pearce’s Tea Party House Republicans. Politico reports that the bipartisan plan “landed with a thud” among Congressman Pearce’s Tea Party Republicans.
The Senate’s bipartisan proposal would strengthen border security and create an employment verification system while requiring undocumented immigrants to register for legal status, pass a criminal background check, and pay their taxes. The proposal would provide a pathway to eventual citizenship, but would require undocumented workers to go to the back of the line and learn English before they could qualify.
“Our immigration system is broken and the American people are demanding Congressman Pearce abandon his Tea Party extremism and back commonsense, tough, fair and practical immigration reform” said Emily Bittner of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Elected leaders on the left and right are willing to support comprehensive reform that is tough and smart – it fixes the broken system with new border security, tough employment verification and legal status for aspiring citizens who learn English and pay taxes, but Congressman Pearce seems too tied to the out-of-touch Tea Party agenda to work for real compromise.”
Background
- · Bipartisan immigration reform plan lands with a “thud” in Tea Party-dominated House. “The Senate’s bipartisan immigration reform plan was lauded by the White House and advocacy groups around town on Monday. But with House Republicans, it landed with a thud.” [Politico, 1/28/13]
- · Boehner “mum” on bipartisan immigration proposal. Speaker John Boehner isn’t taking a position on the bipartisan Senate immigration proposal. [Politico, 1/28/13]
- · McCarthy: We should not provide amnesty to those who “defy our laws.” “We should not provide any amnesty that would benefit those who defy our laws and enter the United States illegally […] We should also ensure that illegal immigrants are not receiving any of the benefits that are reserved for American Citizens.” [kevinmccarthy.house.gov, accessed 1/28/13]
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ICYMI....New Mexico Democrats Unveil Jobs Plan for New Mexico Families
In Case You Missed It...House and Senate Democrats yesterday announced a jobs plan for New Mexico families.
The contrast with the Governor's plan on how to move New Mexico Forward could not be any clearer.
Democrats introduced $97 million in shovel ready projects, new innovative ideas in the Tech, Film, Agriculture, Energy, and a "Job Council' that will put Business, Industry, and Labor all at the same table to move New Mexico forward.
See below for the coverage on Democrats plan to put New Mexico back to work:
Dems, Gov. Tout Competing Jobs Plans
SANTA FE — Top-ranking New Mexico Democratic legislators rolled out their plan to spark job growth in New Mexico on Monday, while Gov. Susana Martinez highlighted her proposals to help small businesses statewide.
Martinez and some Democratic lawmakers appear to agree on certain changes to the state’s tax code, but old fights over film incentives and public works projects could flare up again as debate intensifies over how to bolster the state’s struggling economy.
Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, said Monday that he will sponsor legislation during the 60-day legislative session to repeal the state’s $50 million annual cap on film rebates. Martinez fought to limit film rebates after taking office in 2011.
“We have to send the word out to the (film) industry that we’re stable and we want them here,” Griego said.
Martinez responded by saying she would not support any effort to eliminate or increase the state cap on film incentives.
“I’m not going to take money out of a classroom and tell the kids that the film industry is needing the money,” Martinez said. “You’ve got to prioritize.”
Instead, Martinez proposed rolling over any unspent film credits to the following year rather than having the remaining incentive revert back to the state general fund. That would have been the case this year, as film rebates approved by New Mexico plunged after the annual cap was enacted and did not reach the $50 million figure.
Speaking to members of the commercial real estate development group NAIOP in Albuquerque, Martinez also outlined new details about her plan to offer a $1,000 tax credit for each new worker hired by small businesses between Jan. 1 this year and Dec. 31, 2014. To qualify for the one-time credit, a company must have fewer than 100 employees.
“I believe this type of credit, targeted to help our small businesses succeed, will provide a strong incentive to create new jobs that otherwise wouldn’t be created, to signal confidence in our economy,” Martinez said.
The Republican governor also reiterated her proposal to expand funding for the state Job Training Incentive Program, which pays a portion of the wages for a newly hired employee being trained on the job.
Meanwhile, Democrats said at the unveiling of their “New Mexico Jobs Now” initiative that their package of bills is more well-rounded than the governor’s plan, which focuses largely on tax cuts and credits.
In addition to the proposed repeal of the film rebate cap, Democrats also said they would push legislation to enact new green energy tax credits, help rural food producers and create a governmental jobs council that would include private sector and labor union membership.
Senate Majority Whip Tim Keller, D-Albuquerque, said the various bills would help tackle what he described as a “crisis” in the state’s economy.
“We’re concerned that the governor’s plan doesn’t quite get there,” Keller said.
— This article appeared on page A3 of the Albuquerque Journal
Democrats propose lifting film subsidy cap in N.M.
By Barry Massey | The Associated Press
1/28/2013
A fight is brewing between the Democratic-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez over whether New Mexico should offer more tax subsidies for film production.
House and Senate Democratic legislative leaders said Monday they’re working on measures to boost the economy and create jobs. One proposal is to lift a cap on film tax incentives.
New Mexico provides a 25 percent refund on certain expenditures on film and television projects.
The state will hand out no more than $50 million in tax credits each year under a law enacted in 2011, but a proposal by Sen. Phil Griego, a San Jose Democrat, would eliminate the cap.
“We want to send the word out … to this industry that New Mexico is open and wanting them to come here to film,” Griego said Monday at a news conference with Democratic leaders of the House and Senate.
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez opposes lifting the cap, according to spokesman Enrique Knell.
However, the administration plans to ask the Legislature to change the law to allow film subsidies that go unused under the yearly limit to be carried over to the next year, potentially providing more than $50 million to be available for film companies in some years.
Knell said the state’s 25 percent tax subsidy “remains a highly competitive rate and, coupled with all of the other tremendous advantages that New Mexico has for filmmaking, we’re continuing to attract productions to our state.”
State officials contend that New Mexico is attractive for television and film production because of its weather, diverse landscape and a strong base of film industry crew members.
The Legislature and GOP governor agreed to the $50 million annual limit after Martinez initially proposed reducing the tax rebate rate to 15 percent.
Both Democrats and Republicans are pushing economic development measures in this year’s 60-day session. The governor has proposed lowering the corporate income tax rate and establishing a tax credit for small businesses that create jobs.
Democrats said they’re considering measures to encourage technology and energy industry jobs. They also said the construction industry will benefit from capital improvement projects that lawmakers expect to finance this year with more than $200 million in available bond financing.
The Stage is Set
January 28th, 2013 at 6:16 pm by Alex Goldsmith under N.M. Politics
This morning Democrats laid out their three-pronged job creation plan, a little less than two weeks after Governor Martinez used the big stage of her State of the State address to lay out her own plans to boost the state economy.
The Democratic plan includes nearly $100 million in new funding for infrastructure projects, forming a jobs council and focused incentives in four different sectors of New Mexico’s economy (Film, Technology, Energy and Value-Added Agriculture).
The Governor’s plan includes tax credits for small businesses that create new jobs, increased funding to cover employee training (JTIP) and a slashing of the corporate tax rate.
Some of these points may be complementary. While Governor Martinez has vetoed some infrastructure projects in the past in capital outlay bills, it would be surprising to see her veto the whole package. While Democrats may have some questions about how much a new jobs tax break would cost, investing in JTIP could be amenable.
But there are some parts where a line in the sand is being drawn. Next week Democrats are expected to unveil another legislative initiative to hike the state’s minimum wage, something that could get some pushback from the fourth floor.
Likewise a corporate tax cut is a tough sell to many Democrats. In his response to the State of the State, Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez said that job creation solely through tax breaks for businesses is not viable.
There could be some trading there.
Both sides have fought over film tax incentives in the past, with the Governor in favor of an annual cap and Democrats opposed to capping tax credits for filmmakers.
The fights won’t be resolved for quite a while, but now many of the cards are on the table. Now the stage is set for an economic debate in a state that has struggled to keep pace with the slow national recovery.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - Joe Monahan
Economy Finally Takes Spotlight At Roundhouse: Dems Come With Baby Step Plan On Jobs Crisis....
They say the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one, so even though they took only baby steps to address the state's job crisis, state House Democrats get credit for becoming the first branch of the New Mexican government Monday to formally acknowledge what all of us out here have known for several years:
The state is in a pernicious retrenchment and good-paying jobs are going the way of the Dodo bird. However, the cloud of denial that has surrounded it is gradually being blown away by a non-stop onslaught of undeniably negative news.
Before we take a look at the Dem jobs plan, let's glance at the latest batch of that undeniable data. Read it, but try not to drop your coffee cup:
The ABQ area lost 2,300 jobs in the 12 months that ended Dec. 31, marking 13 consecutive months of year-over-year negative job growth rates, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions said. The four-county area has been in near-constant recession for four years and now has as many jobs as it did in 2004...“At its highest, employment was around 396,800 jobs (in February 2008). After large losses throughout 2008 and 2009, Albuquerque employment has hovered around 370,00 jobs,” the report said.
Four years of constant recession. It's jarring, even for a state that takes to heart its unofficial motto of "Land of Mañana."
But if that didn't give you a jolt equivalent to a double espresso, here's one that should do the trick:
The construction industry (in the ABQ metro) continued its six-year-long slide, losing 1,400 jobs during the year for a 7.1 percent decline. The industry has not added jobs since September 2006. The sector now employs 18,400, the lowest December employment level since 1992.
1992? That's a 20 year low, Gators. And that's the big "D"--Depression.
No one wants to Californicate New Mexico, but neither do we want to outlaw hammers and nails.