3rd Congressional District candidates poised for 'big pick'

| The New Mexican

5/4/2008 - 5/3/08

In the run-up to the June state primaries, Democrat and Republican candiates in contested races are asked to name the number one issue facing the governmental body in which they seek to serve. And we ask them how they think their presence in that office would help resolve it.

This week, you'll read the opinions of the primary candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in District Three, which serves the entire northern half of the state.

Next week: Public Regulations Commission candidates


Fiscal responsiblity and real-life view
By Dan East
Republican primary candidate
There are many critical issues facing our nation today. Whether it's health care, border security, education, or our struggling economy, clearly there is a lot of work ahead of us.

While these issues by themselves are enough to keep you up at night, there's also the War on Terror — something Americans consider every day.

I'll touch on our economy. Whether paying the mortgage, providing for your family, or paying $3.50 or more per gallon at the gas pump, we all agree that times are tough. As a small-business owner, I know first-hand what it's like to make ends meet.

The politicians in the U.S. Congress have lost sight of that; and when elected from the Third District, I'll bring fiscal reasonability with a "real life" perspective.

Our government must stop the wasteful spending that strangles the federal budget.

At the same time, I understand the need to start reinvesting in America. It's possible to rein in wasteful spending while at the same time provide necessary resources to secure our future. Our roads, bridges and clean water systems are falling apart at an alarming rate. When we invest in our infrastructure, we create quality, good-paying jobs — jobs that cannot be sent overseas. And the results are not meager: It's estimated that every $1 billion invested in America's infrastructure creates more than 40,000 jobs.

New Mexico's Third Congressional District alone currently faces $250 million in clean-water infrastructure needs. The federal government has an obligation to help address this problem; I will fight for every nickel to see that our local neighborhoods get their fair share. I'll fight for market-based approaches to economic challenges, and fight to cut spending on wasteful programs that don't provide a benefit to the American people.

Keeping money in the pockets of Americans is sound economic policy. Permanently extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, reforming the federal estate tax, and extending small business expensing and expedited depreciation schedules would be sound public policy, and would absolutely provide a significant kick-start to the economy.

This year's election is critical — the outcome will provide the barometer for our immediate future.

Experience gap could affect our future
By Marco Gonzales
Republican Primary candidate

New Mexico is losing 61 years of experience.
Sen. Pete Domenici is retiring. All our current Representatives are giving up their House seats to run for the Senate. The result is an "experience gap." This experience gap is the most important issue facing New Mexicans and our future.

Experience matters. Your next Congressman's ability to get things done will affect every New Mexican, every day, on every issue.

Being an effective Congressman takes a wide range of skills. There is no substitute for having been there. Next to seniority, which New Mexico is losing, the next best thing is Congressional staff experience, of which I have 10 years.

Your Congressman needs to know how to appropriate funds for vital New Mexico programs. He needs to know how to pass good legislation and stop the bad. He needs to know about our cherished rural way of life, our land grants, grazing rights and our acequias.

He needs to know how to protect the jobs, budget and critical missions of Los Alamos National Laboratory, our National Guard facilities and Cannon Air Force Base. Your Congressman needs to know when, how and who to ask. He needs to be able to explain pits to pucks and transmutation of nuclear waste to his colleagues.

New Mexicans depend on many federal programs. Your Congressman needs to know how to make federal agencies work for you, not against you.

You need a Congressman who knows how to track down a missing Social Security check or how to assist a returning soldier get veterans benefits. You need a Congressman who has listened to constituents and drafted legislation to solve their problem.

New Mexico is facing serious problems. My experience means that we can have solutions "Today, not Tomorrow" — or TNT. My experience and commitment to TNT means I will be the best freshman congressman possible.

There are so many issues. We need affordable energy, gasoline, housing, health care and education.

I ask for your vote on June 3 so I can put my experience to work for you. Together we can address affordability and other issues — Today, not Tomorrow.

Main corrupting influence is money
By Jon Adams
Democrat Primary candidate

The most critical issue facing the United States House of Representatives today is the influence of money, which has affected and tainted everything from energy regulation, from the war in Iraq to health care.

Lobbyists and special interests own Congress. They contribute tremendous amounts of money, through political action committees, or PACs, and by using 527s for "swift boat-style" attacks against anyone who opposes them.

We should limit money in congressional politics. If a person obtains the required signatures to secure a position on the primary ballot, they should receive $50,000 from the government to get their message out — no more and no less, the same as anyone else who gathers the required number of signatures. Candidates who win the primary should receive $500,000 for the general election.

Money corrupts, buys and influences. Contribution limits and the bans on corporations giving money are essentially myths because the same purposes are accomplished through PACs.

For example, Heather Wilson took $55,000 from HMOs in the 2006 election cycle. And then she voted against health care for children. She claimed she was protecting the elderly from losing benefits, but the bill didn't affect that.

In fact, it would have stopped the HMOs from looting the Medicare fund. In short, her vote was bought and paid for.

For seven years, policies have only benefited a very small and wealthy group of people.

Oil and gas companies have bought and paid for the current administration. Is it any wonder they are now reaping record profits while the rest of us suffer at the pump?

HMOs, drug companies and insurance companies own Congress. Is it any wonder that the same thing is happening with health care costs that is happening with oil and gas costs?

Corporate crooks run free after betraying the marketplace and their shareholders, and after looting lifetimes of work in pension funds, while federal prosecutors appointed by George W. Bush do nothing.

Until we take the corrupting influence of money out of politics, Congress will continue to run this country into the ground for the benefit of a few, none of whom wanted that anyway.

Concentrate on energy policy
By Ben Ray Luján
Democrat Primary candidate

Congress faces many issues that will take tough, principled decisions to resolve.

The economy, ending the war in Iraq, standing up for veterans, protecting our environment and restoring our Constitutional rights will test our next member of Congress.

But no issue affects more people and more aspects of domestic and foreign policy than our energy policy.

We must free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil and make New Mexico a center of renewable energy production that will foster an improved economy and green-collar jobs in our state.

The Bush administration's energy policy is outdated and ineffective. It has led to foreign policy problems like invading Iraq.

We're paying nearly $4 a gallon for gas while oil companies receive billions in subsidies.

By changing our focus to renewable-energy generation, Congress can create new green jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependence on foreign oil.

New Mexico has a tremendous opportunity to lead the nation into a new, clean-energy future.

At the Public Regulation Commission, I fought for legislation that required New Mexico utilities to provide 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020 — some of the strongest standards in the nation.

At the PRC, we implemented those standards and created rules to encourage the development of solar and other renewable generation.

When the Bush administration failed to take action on global warming, I joined leaders in Oregon, Washington and California to sign on to the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change to take regional action to address this issue.

In Congress, I will work closely with our next U.S. Senator, Tom Udall, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, to promote policies as strong as these at the national level.

My experience with renewable energy and working on a regional level to fight global warming will allow me to immediately contribute ideas and vision for a new energy future for America.

We deserve an energy policy that is a benefit, not a burden, to New Mexico and the United States.

Middle class is losing ground quickly
By Harry Montoya
Democrat Primary candidate

The most critical issue facing the U.S. today is the economy. As your Congressman, my top priority will be fixing our economy locally and nationally.

I will do all I can to encourage businesses to grow, to lower record-high gas prices and to eliminate the tax breaks for the wealthy. The faltering economy threatens to hang on the back of us all, including our children, and our children's children.

The middle class as we know it is being lost. The gap is widening daily between the top 1 percent and the rest of us. I will work to reverse the administration's tax breaks for the wealthy and build tax incentives for the middle class and provide tax credits so low-income children can attend college and establish a solid economic future.

Our middle class needs help now. I will work to strengthen our economy locally — so we in New Mexico benefit.

The critical relationship between the war in Iraq and our economy cannot be overstated. It is draining the life's blood of our country — our brave men and women—- while also building up a severe debt that is so large we run the risk of our institutions being owned by foreign investors and governments.

In order to stimulate the economy, we need to withdraw our troops from Iraq so we can invest the $10 billion to $12 billion we are spending there each month. This will allow us to invest here at home on education, health care and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure.

We also need to have a sustainable water supply in New Mexico in order to have long-term economic growth.

Adding to the economic despair is underage drinking and substance abuse. As someone who runs a nonprofit dedicated to ending substance abuse, I know just how widespread this problem truly is.

Ending substance abuse should be a target for all lawmakers at all levels, as youth are drinking at much younger ages than ever before.

In order to give them the opportunity to succeed in their education and their lives (economic prosperity), we need to make sure they remain drug free.

United States faces economic crises
By Rudy Martín
Democrat Primary candidate

I believe that the most critical issue facing the U.S. House today is the economy. It has overshadowed the war in Iraq. High gasoline prices, high food prices, home foreclosures and high unemployment are the concerns people face on a daily basis.

Corporations are outsourcing jobs, and our government encourages this practice by giving corporations tax incentives while our citizens lose their jobs. This practice must be stopped.

Our government must focus its efforts on creating a competitive job market. We need to revamp the taxation system in America and create a system where all persons pay their fair share of taxes. With reference to the war in Iraq, we must work to end the war expeditiously and in a manner where our troops are withdrawn safely.

By doing so, we can take the money being spent in Iraq and re-deploy it to improving our infrastructure, educational programs and the creation of jobs for our citizens. In addition, there is substantial money being directed to Iraq that could be used to pay for universal health care for all Americans. This should include health care for veterans who come home only to be ignored and treated like second-class citizens.

Finally, our Congress has to stop the practice of corporate bailouts.

As a result of negligence, poor management and poor business practices, corporations place themselves in a failing position.

As an attorney, I possess the skills that are needed to develop legislation that considers the well being of the American people. My experience as a trial lawyer provides me with the skills to question and extract pertinent information in order to make sound decisions and create laws.

These skills are crucial to address the economic crisis facing our nation. I have proven that my independence, knowledge and skills are necessary to make decisions in the best interest of the American public.

Lobbyists and special interest groups, therefore, would not have an influence on my decisions.

Bring our divided nation together
By Benny J. Shendo Jr.
Democrat Primary candidate

The most important issue facing the next Congress will be bringing our divided nation together so we can get back on track creating what we all want: a safe, healthy, prosperous future for ourselves, our loved-ones and the generations to come:

• A future based on energy that doesn't destroy our environment and harm our health, nor decimate our economy and put our brave young men and women at risk fighting unjust wars for oil.
• A future based on respect for our rich mix of cultures, so that all of our children can grow up proud of who they are and where they come from.
• A future based on quality education and quality health care for all, so that we can lead morally, intellectually and economically in the global marketplace.

We must stop falling for the old ruse that in order to have jobs and a viable economy we must suffer pollution and miserable, unhealthy jobs, when the truth is that a future based on clean, renewable, safe energy will provide more jobs, healthier jobs, better paying jobs and a stronger, healthier, more sustainable economy.

And New Mexico, with its wealth of scientific infrastructure, sunshine and wind, is uniquely positioned to benefit economically from research into cleaner, more sustainable technologies.

It is time for America to return to the ideals and values that she was founded on — that we are all in this together and we all do better when we all do better.

As a Native American, I was raised with the values that come from my people living sustainably for centuries —respect for the land, the waters, the air, the plants and animals that share this world with us; respect for our families, especially the wisdom of our elders, our grandmothers and grandfathers; respect for our neighbors and our community; respect for all people no matter how different they seem.

This is what I am made of. This is who I am.

These are the values that we need in our leadership in Washington — and that is why I am running for Congress, to represent all of us, not just the well-connected or wealthy few.

Ending war must become our priority
By Don Wiviott
Democrat Primary candidate

There is no question that ending the war in Iraq is the most pressing issue before the House of Representatives.

It's time for Washington to realize that the war in Iraq is dragging down our economy, endangering the future prosperity of our country and making America less secure. Simply put, we can't fix our economic woes and make America safer without bringing about a swift and responsible end to the war in Iraq.

Five years of intense fighting in Iraq has placed a heavy toll on our military. Essential combat resources have been stretched to the breaking point and military commanders have been distracted from pursuing key terrorist strongholds throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our troops and their families will again have to bear the brunt of fighting a war against multiple enemies in a hostile climate of increasing violence. Meanwhile, political progress remains stagnant and the Iraqis continue to dodge taking more responsibility for their country.

On the home front, the Bush administration and its Republican enablers have manufactured a major economic setback by pumping roughly $300 million a day into Iraq. It's time to put the squeeze on wasteful funding in Iraq and revitalize our economy by using the billions we spend on private contractors like Blackwater and Halliburton to spark growth in small business, health care, education and clean energy.

To accomplish this change, we need to elect leaders who will go to Washington and vote to end the war as quickly and responsibly as possible. A new strategy needs to be put forth that recognizes our number one priority is bringing our troops home safely. We also need to deliver a foreign policy that engages the international community and uses diplomacy to help the Iraqi government continue toward the path of stability, sovereignty, and success.

It's time for Americans to stand up and voice their collective will to end this war. If elected, I will fight for a new direction in Iraq, and together we will insist on realizing this change and building a brighter future for America.