The Washington Independent » Steve Pearce

Native-friendly amendment voted down by mining-friendly New Mexico representatives

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:20:57 +0000

Late last week, an amendment proposed by Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D), of New Mexico’s third district, attempting to alter a deal between the U.S. government and a major mining firm was voted down. Luján had been seeking to tweak the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2009, legislation originally introduced by Senators John Kyl and John McCain allowing for an exchange of land between the federal government and the Resolution Copper Co. Lujan had hoped to protect this land, considered sacred and of cultural and historical significance to Native peoples not just in Arizona and New Mexico but throughout the United States.

Luján stood staunchly against the bill in his proposal.“You have heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that their bill offers protection for the sacred, traditional, and cultural sites in the proposed area to be exchanged, but I don’t believe that to be true,” he said. “If it were true, then why is every major tribal organization in the country opposing this bill?”

Luján cited the National Congress of American Indians, the All-Indian Pueblo Council of New Mexico, the San Carlos Apache Tribe (whose 2,400 acres of land on the Tonto National Forest is most affected by the Act), and the Jicarilla and Mescalero Apache tribes of New Mexico, among many other U.S. tribes as having spoken out against the land swap. “We have a Trust responsibility to our tribal brothers and sisters, and those who oppose this responsibility will dismantle it piece by piece with a scalpel and not all at once with an axe,” he said.

Among those who voted against Luján’s proposed amendment were fellow New Mexico Representative Steve Pearce, who, according to MapLight, a website that tracks the voting records and campaign contributions of U.S. Congressmen, received $9,600 from mining interests. Similarly, Representatives Jeff Flake and Ben Quayle of Arizona also voted down the amendment, and received, respectively, $5,000 and $2,500 each from the mining industry.

Rep. Luján sent the New Mexico Independent this statement:

“It was unfortunate that my amendment to protect Native American sacred and cultural sites was not adopted. Adoption of this simple amendment would have shown respect for the religious and cultural sites that are important to the many tribes in the region, in addition to recognizing that we have a responsibility to work with our tribal brothers and sisters on issues that impact their communities. Opponents of my amendment will say that tribal consultation is part of the exchange, but frankly what is outlined in the bill is not sufficient to ensure protection of sacred sites.”

Rep. Ben Luján requests patent office in New Mexico after voting against patent law

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:31:51 +0000

Rep. Ben Luján (D-N.M.) and other Democratic members of the New Mexico congressional delegation are asking the Obama administration to open a regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in central New Mexico. Unlike his fellow Democrats, Luján voted against the America Invents Act, the patent reform law that establishes the new USPTO branches that he wants to bring to the state. The law was backed by the House Republican leadership, but opposed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as well as other progressive Democrats. They were joined with some conservative or “Tea Party Caucus” Republicans like Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Rep. Steve King (Iowa).

Last week, Luján joined Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) in sending a letter that cited low property costs, a skilled population, and the potential for job creation as reasons to locate a new USPTO branch in central New Mexico.

Currently the only other regional patent office is located in Detroit, Mich. The Act preserves this office and requires that two more offices be created in order to reduce the massive backlog of patent applications.

Luján proposed an amendment to the bill while it was being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives that requires officials to take into consideration the economic impact of the new patent offices, as well as the need for local skilled personnel, when determining its location. Here’s Luján defending his amendment:

Obama calls for immigration reform on Texas-Mexico border

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:52:33 +0000

President Barack Obama called for immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, in a speech in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday. It was Obama’s first trip to the border as president.

Obama said the lack of progress on immigration reform occurred despite work from people on both sides of the aisle.

“We’ve seen leaders of both parties who try to work on this issue, but then their efforts fell prey to the usual Washington games,” Obama said. “And all the while, we’ve seen the mounting consequences of decades of inaction.”

Obama said that Republicans have been looking to “move the goal posts” on securing the border.

“They wanted a fence,” Obama said. “Well the fence is now basically complete.”

“We’re here at the border because we also recognize that being a nation of laws goes hand in hand with being a nation of immigrants,” Obama said in his address at Chamizal National Memorial in El Paso.

Rep. Steve Pearce, the lone Republican in the New Mexico delegation, said before Obama’s speech that the president should have met with constituents in border communities in New Mexico.

“We cannot possibly address immigration without first facing our border security problems,” Pearce said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that the President missed an opportunity to hear from my constituents about the need for serious measures.”

Sen. Tom Udall, a Democrat, said that he supported former President George W. Bush’s call for immigration reform and praised Obama for bringing it up again.

“Comprehensive immigration legislation is necessary to fix our broken borders and advance the educational and economic progress of the country,” Udall said in a statement. “I hope that the president’s speech is just the beginning of a bipartisan effort to pass real reform.”

Sen. Jeff Bingaman also called for immigration reform.

“Obviously, we must make security a centerpiece of comprehensive immigration reform,” Bingaman said. “But I do believe Congress needs to finally find a way to create a more thoughtful immigration system that works for our economy.”

After being “encouraged” by Obama’s speech, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico Regional Center for Border Rights called for Obama to change its focus “on a costly, enforcement-only model.”

“Our national security, while critical, should never come at the expense of civil and human rights,” said Vicki Gaubeca, director of the ACLU-NM Regional Center for Border Rights. “At the very least, we need more transparency, accountability and oversight to prevent the border region from becoming a Constitution-free zone.”

Any sort of immigration reform seems unlikely over the next two years. The House of Representatives is controlled by a Republican majority, while the Senate has a Democratic majority. The two chambers have been unable to agree on a number of high-profile issues.

Watch the speech:

Pearce: Tea party trip outside district has nothing to do with Senate run

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:28:04 +0000

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., is traveling to speak to a tea party meeting in the state’s largest city, but he tells NMPolitics.net that his Albuquerque trip has nothing to do with a potential Senate run. Pearce has said he is considering a run at the open U.S. Senate seat but has yet to make a decision.

Pearce will be speaking at a tea party even in Albuquerque’s west side — outside his district.

Eric Layer, a spokesman for Pearce, told NMPolitics.net:

“He was invited to attend, and it fit into his schedule – he’ll be in the northern part of the 2nd District for much of that day.”

Rep. Steve Pearce questions constitutionality of public broadcasting funding

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:53:21 +0000

Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., told KUNM there is “no constitutional authority” for funding public broadcasting like NPR or PBS. KUNM is an NPR affiliate.

Reporter Jim Williams made a disclaimer that KUNM receives around $242,000 a year, or 13 percent of its funding, from the federal government through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The House voted to defund the CPB earlier this month. Pearce voted along with the majority, while Reps Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, both Democrats, voted against the defunding.

“There’s no constitutional authority for our government to be in the radio business,” Pearce said.

Rep. Steve Pearce

Pearce mentioned that advertising could help the programming.

“Much of the programming is highly popular programming and advertisers would love to get in and pay for it, it would be, in my mind, the right way to go,” Pearce said.

Pearce mentioned other examples of areas he feels the government shouldn’t be getting into: health insurance, banking, auto manufacturing.

“At some point, we don’t have a free market at all,” Pearce said.

The total funding for public broadcasting in New Mexico from fiscal year 2009 is available on the CPB website.

Pearce was talking to NPR about cutting spending in the federal government when the discussion turned to the funding of public broadcasting.

“Right now the Senate is just ignoring the problem,” Pearce said, referring to cutting spending. “They’re content to kick this can down the road every two weeks because it ignores the need to cut more significant amounts from the budget.”

Pearce also discussed a plan he has to allow logging in Southeast New Mexico.

“We’ve got the wood in the forest, our forests are burning down. I’m saying that we have false choices in the past 30 years, choices that we have to choose a species over jobs is a false choice. We can keep the spotted owl alive and create a lot of timber jobs at the same time,” Pearce told KUNM.

Pearce’s law would exempt national forest timber cutting from environmental laws.

Todd Schulke, a forest policy analyst at the Center for Biological Diversity said in a statement, “This bill would sweep away decades of environmental protection, including the Endangered Species Act, as well as force the Mexican spotted owl into internment camps that Pearce calls sanctuaries.”

Greg Sowards: ‘There will be no one to my right’ in GOP primary

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:31:41 +0000

Republican Senate candidate Greg Sowards told Politico Tuesday that no candidate in the Republican primary would be further to the right than he is. Sowards also said he didn’t believe that Rep. Steve Pearce would enter the Republican primary.

“There will be no one to my right, and I believe the other candidates are more conglomerated around the moderate area,” Sowards said, according to David Cantanes. “I don’t see how anyone would get between me and conservative principles. They can go to the loon right, which is, as far as I’m concerned, like coming back around on the left.”

Sowards also said that Pearce supporters had told him they would oppose a second Senate run from the Republican congressman. Pearce ran for Senate in 2008 and won a hard-fought primary against Heather Wilson. Pearce then went on to lose the general election to Tom Udall.

Pearce, like Wilson, left his seat in the U.S. House to make the unsuccessful run for Senate. Pearce regained the seat in 2010 from Democrat Harry Teague.

Pearce spokesman Eric Layer told Politico, “I seriously doubt that Congressman Pearce’s supporters are in close contact with Mr. Sowards.”

Sowards made the comments while on a trip to speak to conservative groups that he hopes will support his Senate bid in 2012.

Wilson is considered the only top-tier candidate for the seat to be vacated by U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, who announced his retirement on Feb. 18. Columnist William S. English is also running for Senate, while Pearce and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez are considering runs.

There are no announced candidates on the Democratic side, though U.S. Reps. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, State Auditor Hector Balderas and former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish have all either said they are looking at Senate runs or have been reportedly looking to run for Senate.

Parker Griffith Loses Re-nomination Bid

Jimm Phillips — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:18:29 +0000

Both incumbent members of Congress who switched parties since the 2008 election have now lost re-nomination, as voters turned away Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Parker Griffith (Ala.) Tuesday.

Griffith conceded late Tuesday night to Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks, who defeated Griffith 51-33 percent. A third candidate, veteran Les Phillip, won 16 percent. One candidate needed to get a majority in order to avoid a runoff. The Associated Press called the race around 1 a.m. Wednesday, after this article’s original posting.

Griffith, elected as a Democrat in 2008 to replace nine-term Rep. Bud Cramer (D), was a member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition. He announced his decision to switch to the Republican Party on Dec. 22, citing disagreements with the House Democratic leadership and his opposition to key pieces of Democratic legislation — including health care reform and cap-and-trade. He had previously also pledged to not vote for Pelosi as speaker for the next Congress if the Democrats held the majority. Days later, most of his staff — including his chief of staff, legislative director, press secretary and even his intern — resigned en masse.

While Griffith got support from national GOP leaders, local party members were skeptical of his loyalty to his new party — particularly so soon after the bruising 2008 general election that saw him beat Republican candidate Wayne Parker 52-48 percent. Both Brooks and Phillip made the party switch a campaign issue, with Brooks running an ad that described him as “a congressman we can trust.”

The other member of Congress who switched parties since the last election, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), lost his party’s nomination to Rep. Joe Sestak May 18. Griffith was the fourth incumbent member of Congress overall to lose re-nomination during this election cycle.

Brooks will face business owner Steve Raby (D), who easily won his party’s nomination, in the general election.

Update at 1:26 a.m., June 2: The Huntsville Times reports Griffith did not appear at his own campaign reception, but e-mailed out a statement late Tuesday night after conceding to Brooks:

I look forward to working in Congress on behalf of the people of North Alabama over the next six months. We have a lot of ongoing issues that are important to this community and I will continue to work on those issues and fight for the people of North Alabama.

Update at 6:26 p.m., June 2: Griffith’s loss was the biggest news to come out of yesterday’s primary elections, but there were other results of note.

ALABAMA

Rep. Artur Davis lost his bid to be the state’s first black Democratic candidate for governor, falling to Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks 62-38 percent. Analysts are already noting that Davis may have done in his campaign by distancing himself from the party and some of the state’s most influential black organizations. Sparks’ Republican opponent is still unknown — former state Sen. Bradley Byrne and either Dr. Robert Bentley or businessman Tim James will face off in a July 13 runoff.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R) easily won his primary against Tea Party activist Clint Moser. His general election opponent, William G. Barnes (D), won his primary against teacher Simone De Moore 61-39 percent.

All other incumbent House members easily won their primaries, while both primaries in the seat Davis left open will have to be decided in runoffs.

I wouldn’t normally report on a state office, but I’ll make an exception for the Republican primary for agriculture commissioner — the job Sparks is leaving. Dale Peterson, whose ads became viral videos in recent weeks, is out of the running. He came in third place with 27 percent of the vote, disqualifying him from the runoff.

MISSISSIPPI

There’s nothing to report here, as all four House incumbents were unopposed in their primaries.

NEW MEXICO

Whether voters elect the Democratic or Republican candidate for governor, they will be choosing the first woman to occupy the office. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish (D) ran unopposed, while Susana Martinez (R), district attorney for Doña Ana County, won her primary against four opponents with 51 percent of the vote.

Former Rep. Steve Pearce (R), who lost the open Senate race to Tom Udall (D) in 2008, easily won the primary to reclaim his House seat from Rep. Harry Teague (D). All three Democratic incumbents were unopposed in their primaries.

The New Democratic Face of the West

Jefferson Morley — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:18:43 +0000

The 2008 election has transformed a big part of the mountain West into a Democratic redoubt. Not only did President-elect Barack Obama carry both Colorado and New Mexico, Democrats picked up two Senate seats and four congressional seats in the two states.

In New Mexico, the party hit a “grand slam” — winning all three of the state’s congressional districts and an open Senate seat, according to New Mexico Independent.

Rep. Tom Udall easily moved into [Republican Pete] Domenici’s Senate seat, defeating Rep. Steve Pearce of Hobbs. Similarly, Ben Ray Lujan had little problem sweeping a three-way race to replace Udall in the 3rd Congressional District.

The surprises of the night were Martin Heinrich blasting past popular Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White in CD1 and Harry Teague topping Ed Tinsley in southern New Mexico’s CD2. Both Democrats had slim leads in the polls leading up to Election Day, but substantial numbers of undecided voters apparently swung their way.

In a stunning upset in Colorado, a longshot liberal businesswoman, Betsy Markey, ousted Marilyn Musgrave, an outspoken incumbent conservative best known for her opposition to gay marriage. Markey is the first Democrat in 36 years to win the vast 4th congressional district that stretches from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. Opponents of legal abortion in the state suffered a setback when a proposed constitutional amendment to confer the legal status of personhood on the embryonic egg cells in pregnant woman was overwhelmingly rejected by voters.

Where conservative Republicans once prevailed, moderate liberals now hold sway.