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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For Immediate Release
August 12, 2011
Contact: Matt Canter, (202) 485-3129

Would Heather Wilson and John Sanchez take the 10 to 1 deal? 

VIDEO – Do Heather Wilson and John Sanchez Pledge Allegiance to Tea Party Just Like GOP Presidential Candidates?

During last night’s Republican Presidential Debate in Ames, Iowa, the candidates were asked to raise their hand if they would walk away from any budget deal that would cut $10 in wasteful spending just to protect every dollar of giveaways to the wealthy, multi-national corporations and other special interests. Every single Republican candidate for President raised their hand, refusing a balanced approach and pledging allegiance to the extreme Tea Party ideology that protects the rich and special interests.

Do Heather Wilson and John Sanchez agree with their party standard bearers? VIDEO

“As candidates, Heather Wilson and John Sanchez have both pandered to the Tea Party,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Last night every single Republican Presidential candidate pledged allegiance to the Tea Party and promised to refuse any balanced approach to solve the nation’s debt problems. They even pledged to walk away from any budget deal that would cut $10 in wasteful spending just to protect every single dime of tax giveaways for the wealthy, multi-national corporations and other special interests. Do Heather Wilson and John Sanchez agree with their party’s Tea Party Presidential candidates?”

Background:

WILSON 

Wilson Signed Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare Pledge; Plan Will Force Deep Cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Wilson signed a radical Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare budget pledge. “The measure does not cut Social Security or Medicare in 2012.  And it does not subject them to automatic cuts if its global spending caps are missed.  It is inconceivable, however, that policymakers would meet the bill’s severe annual spending caps through automatic across-the board cuts year after year; if they did, key government functions would be crippled. Policymakers would have little alternative but to institute deep cuts in specific programs. […] Reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”  [Cut Cap Balance Act.com signers, accessed 7/19/2011; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11]

Wilson: “I Don’t Agree With Everything In The Ryan Plan, But I Give Him A Lot Of Credit For Trying To Have A Serious Debate About Saving Medicare.” In May 2011, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported, when asked about Paul Ryan’s plan to overhaul Medicare, Wilson responded, “The greatest threat to seniors is to do nothing to save it, which is the Democratic plan. ... I don’t agree with everything in the Ryan plan, but I give him a lot of credit for trying to have a serious debate about saving Medicare. Democrats have not offered one single idea to save Medicare.”  [Santa Fe New Mexican, 5/30/11]

Wilson Opposed Bipartisan Plan to Prevent Default. In August 2011, Wilson announced that she opposed the final debt ceiling bill considered to be a bipartisan compromise. She said that the government “still spends far more money than it takes in, and this bill does very little to change that.” [Heather Wilson for Senate Facebook page, 8/2/11]

SANCHEZ

Sanchez Signed Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare Pledge; Plan Will Force Deep Cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Sanchez signed a radical Cut, Cap, and Kill Medicare budget pledge. “The measure does not cut Social Security or Medicare in 2012.  And it does not subject them to automatic cuts if its global spending caps are missed.  It is inconceivable, however, that policymakers would meet the bill’s severe annual spending caps through automatic across-the board cuts year after year; if they did, key government functions would be crippled. Policymakers would have little alternative but to institute deep cuts in specific programs. […] Reaching and maintaining a balanced budget in the decade ahead while barring any tax increases would necessitate deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”  [Cut Cap Balance Act.com signers, accessed 7/19/2011; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/16/11]

June 2011: Spokesman Said Sanchez Would Have Voted For Paul Ryan’s 2007 Amendment “Similar” To His FY 2012 Budget Proposal. In June 2011, nmpolitics.net reported that Sanchez spokesman Corbin Casteel said if Sanchez was in the House at the time, he would have voted for Paul Ryan’s 2007 budget amendment which Sanchez labeled “similar” to Ryan’s fiscal year 2012 budget proposal. [nmpolitics.net, 6/10/11]

Sanchez Opposed Bipartisan Plan to Prevent Default. In August 2011, Sanchez announced that he opposed the final debt ceiling bill considered to be a bipartisan compromise. He said, “The lack of a concrete balanced budget amendment while adding to our current $14 trillion debt is not the answer to our country’s economic problems.” [Albuquerque Journal, 8/3/11]

For Immediate Release                               Contact: Scott Forrester

August 2, 2011                                              505 -934-5681

 Updated: August 4, 2011: KOB-TV requested for a response from Mayor Berry Wednesday concerning the DOJ's review into the shootings, but was told the mayor was booked with appointments and was unavailable for comment.

That reminds you of "stealth" Mayor Louis Saavedra back in the early 90's. The city aches for forceful leadership during this crisis. The god-awful political and media advice Berry is getting and following is breathtaking. Won't some elder-Republican statesman types help him out? Or can't they find the bunker?

Albuquerque, NM -   Last week, the NM GOP launched an e-mail newsletter under the banner "Leaders Lead." We're used to seeing a healthy dose of hypocrisy from our friends across the aisle, but this really takes the cake.  

Let's take a moment to review just what type of leadership we're getting from Republicans in New Mexico:

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has gone 213 days since she was sworn in, and we have yet to see a single proposal for job creation.  After the Department of Labor released dismal numbers on our continued job loss (more than 4,000 fewer jobs from May to June, including 1,500 construction jobs), she even had the audacity to send her Party Chairman to spin us that New Mexico's economy is booming! 

Republican SOS Dianna Duran is in hot water for accusing 64,000 New Mexicans of voter fraud. First came the big announcement that she'd uncovered the massive voter fraud that Republicans have been shouting about (and failing to prove) for years. Later, she tried to walk that back, claiming - in direct conflict with her own public statements - she never accused anyone of breaking the law! But when she refused to release the records to public scrutiny we realized the only thing she uncovered was her own political motives. Not exactly a "Profile in Courage."

Republican Mayor RJ  Berry has just gone into hiding, dodging the media and the constituents to whom he is supposed to be accountable. Why? Because instead of fighting for the people of Albuquerque he's been fighting to protect his ethically challenged political crony Darren White, who arrived on the scene of his wife's accident - where news reports have revealed she was driving under the influence - and after intimidating the investigating officers he took her from the scene. RJ had his chance to step up and show real leadership, and instead he was nowhere to be found.

And he's not the only one dodging the tough questions that true leaders have to answer:

When Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson was asked by KRQE where she stands on the debt ceiling, they got no answers, saying "former Congresswoman Heather Wilson didn't want any part of our story." (Senate candidates react to debt impasse)

Republican Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, also refused to tell the people of New Mexico where he stands - which came as a surprise to no one. According to KRQE, "A spokesman for Lt. Gov. John Sanchez said he'd send us a statement. He never did." (Senate candidates react to debt impasse)

So much for "Leaders Leading..." It is truly incredible - not to mention a slap in the face - that a candidate asking to be our voice in Washington on major issues would refuse to tell us how they would handle those very issues, but it's happening every day with Republicans in New Mexico. If that's their definition of leadership, they can keep it. You can see the full email from the GOP below.

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Leaders Lead

RPNM E-Update
Week of July 24th, 2011

Dear Friend,

Good day to you from the Republican Party of New Mexico.

I want to start off this note by thanking Congressman Steve Pearce for his support of the Cut, Cap and Balance legislation that passed the US House this week. Please consider writing a letter to the editor thanking the Congressman for his leadership or contact the Congressman via facebook,twitter, or email for his support of a plan to return our country to fiscal sanity.
 
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus has become fond of the phrase “leaders lead” and Representative Pearce is part of that group of House Republicans that has, of late, given that phrase meaning. The House GOP is the only group to pass a plan that will cut spending while continuing to fund the commitments America has already made.
 
While Democrats in the Senate and President Obama sit on their hands and present nothing, Republican leaders are leading. I encourage you to show your support of Congressman Pearce commitment to take the bull by the horns and work to solve America’s spending problem. 

Here at RPNM we are making cosmetic changes to improve our online communications and outreach. I wanted to take a minute and make you aware of what we are working on. First, we have started the weekly e-update – which you are reading now -- and so far the feedback has been very positive. In response to your requests for more engagement online we have updated the format of our newsletter to include additional social media tools and other means of digital correspondence. Please let us know what you think of the changes.
 
As you will find on the right of this email – we have a presence onfacebook, twitter, tumblr (blog), and youtube. We hope you will fan, friend or follow us on the online tools you use so we can provide you the latest news and updates.

Upcoming Event:
Today, Sunday July 24^th, the Bernalillo GOP is sponsoring a picnic to meet prospective candidates and current legislators. The event is to be held at Onate Park (On Chelwood two blocks south of Menaul) from 2 pm to 4 pm. Free hot dogs, refreshments and activities for kids of all ages. Hope you can drop by this afternoon!
 
Headlines Of The Week: 
Below are a few articles from the past week that I don’t want you to miss.

• National: Poll: President Obama Is At An All Time Low On Economic Job Approval
• New Mexico: The Republican National Committee is Running Ads In New Mexico - ICYMI: Highlights From Conference Call With RNC Political Director Rick Wiley & Bryan Watkins
• RPNM: Democrat Senator Calls Three Out Of Four New Mexicans “Ludicrous”

 
I leave you with this thought, as reported by ABC’s The Note this week:“We have a battle on our hands,” a top New Mexico Democrat said.  “We have a new Republican, Hispanic governor [Susanna Martinez] who’s going to spend as much as she can to make sure Obama can’t get re-elected.” 
 
We are working tirelessly to win this battleground state and we are making an all hands on deck push to turn New Mexico red in 2012. Join us in the fight for a better future for our state and our families. Please considercontributing today to allow RPNM to have the resources to support candidates who understand free enterprise, fight for economic growth and demand that government like within its means just as New Mexico families do.

Best regards,

Monty Newman
Chairman, Republican Party of New Mexico

Pickens-Koch feud tests principles
By: Kenneth P. Vogel

An increasingly bitter personal rift between billionaires T. Boone Pickens and Charles and David Koch has morphed into an expensive political battle that is testing the commitment of House Republicans to the tea party principles many of them have publicly embraced.

The fight centers on legislation backed by Pickens that would grant tax breaks to the natural gas industry, and it is forcing Republican members to choose sides between a traditionally GOP-allied industry and the free-market purism of many conservatives.

The once low-profile Kochs have taken a more prominent role in their fight against the bill than on perhaps any other recent piece of legislation. And they are having some success against legislation that once appeared to have momentum.

Last month, for example, Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) withdrew his co-sponsorship of the measure after “I heard,” he said, that “T. Boone Pickens tends to stand to make a lot of money on it.” Pitts said, “I don’t want to be accused of, you know, doing some sweetheart deal for somebody.” So, he said “I decided I better get off.”

Six days later, Pitts accepted a $1,000 check from Koch PAC — part of a total of $14,000 that the PAC gave six House Republicans in the weeks after they pulled their co-sponsorships of the bill. In all, the political action committee of Koch Industries, the oil and chemical company owned by the libertarian-leaning Koch brothers has given $117,000 to Republican lawmakers who are — or have been — associated with the bill — including, it should be noted, $45,000 to 17 current co-sponsors after they added their names as co-sponsors to the bill. Other Republicans who accepted four-figure checks from Koch PAC soon after dropping off the bill included Reps. Blake Farenthold of Texas, Tim Griffin of Arkansas, John Kline of Minnesota, Steve Pearce of New Mexico and Glen Thompson of Pennsylvania.

The dispute over H.R. 1380, which would provide maximum tax breaks of $64,000 for transportation companies using natural-gas-powered trucks and $100,000 for owners of natural gas fueling stations, has been waged in unusually personal terms, presenting House members with a choice between Pickens, formerly a top Republican financier, and the Koch brothers, perhaps the most significant conservative money men today.

Pickens’s underlying argument is that government support for natural gas will create jobs, while helping wean the U.S. from oil imported from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which he asserts is not a free market. The Kochs counter that such support distorts free markets and rewards “politically favored” industries.

But both the Kochs and Pickens have a financial stake in the outcome, though they have all denied that their positions are motivated by their bottom lines.

Pickens founded and owns a 40 percent stake in Clean Energy Fuels, one of the leading companies involved in building natural gas fueling stations. But his allies are quick to point out that Koch Industries could be hurt if the bill’s passage were to result in an increase in the price of natural gas, which the company uses for manufacturing, or if it diminished the demand for diesel fuel the company refines.

While a Senate version is expected to be introduced imminently, the House bill has yet to move out of committee. That’s likely due in equal parts to the political difficulty in offering tax breaks expected to cost as much as $5 billion while Congress is focused on the deficit, and also because of the campaign launched in May by prominent conservative groups — including some, supporters point out, that have received funding from the Koch brothers — that have made the issue a litmus test of sorts for Republicans.

Pickens’s team originally rolled out the bill with an impressive bipartisan roster of roughly 180 sponsors and co-sponsors, and at one point it appeared as though it could be headed for a full House vote. But under pressure from the Kochs and allied conservative groups, about 15 House Republicans have withdrawn their initial support, though lobbyists for Pickens and natural gas advocacy groups he supports have rounded up an almost equal number of bipartisan replacements.

Now Pickens appears to have made a calculated decision that he can boost his bill’s prospects by publicly attacking the Kochs — which is notable because of his past relationship with the brothers as well as their increasing clout in fiscal conservative circles.

“I know Charles Koch, known him forever it seems like, done a lot of business with him,” Pickens said in an interview last week on MSNBC. “But Charles is focused on Koch Industries. But that’s who pays him. I’m focused on America. And I’m for a plan for us, to get us off of the OPEC oil.”

In addition to apparently having done business with the Kochs, Pickens regularly attended the semi-annual conferences of major conservative donors organized by the Koch brothers, and he hired away one of the Kochs’ top public relations advisers, Jay Rosser. But a few years ago, Pickens began repositioning himself politically in the wake of his outsize role in the 2004 presidential campaign, in which he contributed $2 million to the Swift Boat Veterans group that aired brutal attack ads against Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee.

More recently, he has balanced his political contributions between Democrats and Republicans (his biggest contributions in the past few years have been $25,000 apiece to the Democratic and Republican governors associations). And he has focused more on clean energy evangelism, first focusing on wind energy and now natural gas, spending $82 million since the summer of 2008 promoting it as a vehicle fuel.

In the process, Pickens became a bit of a pariah in the free-market circles in which he once traveled. He stopped getting invitations to the Kochs’ summits and today some opponents of the natural gas bill grumble about his continued claims of fiscal conservatism.

Despite the aggressive personal attacks, Rosser told POLITICO, Pickens continues to “admire [Charles Koch] as a business leader and what he’s done for Koch [Industries].”

Oklahoma Rep. John Sullivan, the lead Republican sponsor of H.R. 1380, said that as recently as the past month, Pickens was reaching out to Charles Koch to talk through their divergent positions. Koch “never called back,” Sullivan said, adding, “If Mr. Koch would return his call and say, ‘I don’t like it’ for whatever reason he doesn’t like it, I think that would be the right thing to do.”

Sullivan — who along with lead Democratic sponsor Rep. John Larson of Connecticut has received a combined total of more than $15,000 in campaign contributions from Pickens and Clean Energy executives — said the personalization of the debate as a Pickens-Koch clash “is frustrating. … What it is, you’ve got two bulls in a field fighting each other, and I’m just a small pawn in the whole thing.”

Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) — who co-sponsored the bill, co-wrote an op-ed with Pickens supporting it and held a town hall with the former oilman on the issue — said, “I don’t want to get in the middle of a fight between the Koch brothers and Boone Pickens. I look at them both as good Americans and capitalists who have tried to do what’s best for the nation.”

But in private, other supporters of the bill have gone further, suggesting that the array of small government groups that have taken up opposition to the bill does so as a result of the funding they’ve received from the Koch family and its foundations.Among the groups leading the charge, at least six — Americans for Prosperity, the American Conservative Union, American Energy Alliance, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the 60 Plus Association and the Commonwealth Foundation – or their affiliates have received funding from the Kochs, their foundations or donor network.

The charge that either the Kochs’ opposition or that of their primary political group, Americans for Prosperity, is motivated by money “is categorically false” and “underhanded,” said Phil Kerpen, policy director for the group, which was founded and funded in part by David Koch, who continues to serve as chairman of the board of the group’s foundation.

“We take policy positions based on our free market principles,” said Kerpen, adding that the Koch brothers have nothing to do with setting the issue stances of Americans for Prosperity.

“There’s increasingly a realization among Republicans that if they want to stand for something that has appeal, they’ve got to be consistent in treating the industries that they like and the industries that they don’t like with a hands-off approach and letting the market decide,” he said. “They’re now grappling with that, and I think that’s why you’re starting to see people pull their names off this bill.”

Darren Goode and Darren Samuelsohn contributed to this report.