McCamley attacks Pearce’s vote against farm bill

Democratic congressional candidate Bill McCamley is criticizing U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., for voting last week against a farm bill that included a provision designed to combat the production of methamphetamine.

Combating meth use is one of Pearce’s often-stated goals.

House Resolution 2419 was approved last week on a vote of 231-191. It included a number of provisions to help fund and sustain America’s farms.

It also included $15 million to encourage farmers to use fertilizers that don’t contain ammonia. A component of meth, ammonia is often stored in large tanks on farms and stolen by meth producers.

“Steve Pearce’s priorities are not in order,” McCamley said in a news release. “He says he supports anti-meth efforts, but on this big vote he voted against fighting meth.”

I’m awaiting a comment from Pearce’s office and will add it to this posting later as an update if he provides one.

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman has said the bill “strikes a reasonable balance in allocating benefits among our nations farming and ranching families who grow a safe and secure supply of food and fiber for America and the world. … Overall, this bill directly benefits America’s taxpayers because it is fiscally responsible, spending $20 billion less than the prior farm bill. That is real reform.”

The bill must still be approved by the Senate and signed by the president.

McCamley said he was surprised by Pearce’s decision to vote against the bill, given the benefits some of the bill’s measures would have for New Mexico.

“We need a change of leadership in this congressional district,” McCamley said. “This bill was good for local farmers and ranchers and it stepped up the fight against meth. It is good for New Mexicans and I would have voted for it.”

McCamley is one of three Democrats fighting for the right to take on Pearce next year.

Update, 2:55 p.m.

Pearce’s office pointed me to a news release from last week stating that he voted against the bill because it “enacts enormous tax increases and will cost New Mexicans thousands of jobs.” He said the good provisions in the bill are “combined with fiscally irresponsible tax hikes that would damage the New Mexico economy, put people out of work and reduce our ability to become energy independent.”

Pearce also said the bill will hurt Spaceport America because it raises taxes on foreign companies. You can read the full release by clicking here.