{"id":12163,"date":"2010-01-28T08:43:22","date_gmt":"2010-01-28T15:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=12163"},"modified":"2010-01-28T15:48:40","modified_gmt":"2010-01-28T22:48:40","slug":"nm-politicians-share-thoughts-on-obama%e2%80%99s-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2010\/01\/nm-politicians-share-thoughts-on-obama%e2%80%99s-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"NM politicians share thoughts on Obama\u2019s speech"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are the statements I have received about President Barack Obama\u2019s State of the Union address<\/a> from New Mexico politicians and candidates for office:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jeff Bingaman<\/p><\/div>\n

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman<\/a>, D-N.M.<\/h3>\n

\u201cPresident Obama laid out a very strong agenda for the Congress. In the coming months, we will focus on strengthening the economy in a way that helps American families educate their children and obtain adequate and affordable health care. We\u2019ll be working to create good jobs, including those in the clean energy sector \u2013 an area that shows great promise for New Mexico. And we\u2019ll be adopting practices to reduce the deficit and get us back to the balanced budget we had a decade ago,\u201d Bingaman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that New Mexicans continue to struggle in these difficult economic times. In his speech, it was clear to me that the president understands that, as well,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is why I believe this is the right agenda for New Mexico and the country, and I will work hard to help the president enact it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Courtesy photo<\/p>

Tom Udall<\/p><\/div>\n

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall<\/a>, D-N.M.<\/h3>\n

\u201cTonight\u00a0President Obama\u00a0outlined an aggressive strategy for getting our economy back on a sustainable path for growth. With initiatives like the economic recovery package, President Obama has made strides during his first year in office and our economy is stronger than it was a year ago at this time,\u201d he said. \u201cBut as President Obama rightly acknowledged, Americans are frustrated, and understandably so. They are depending on us to make our economy work again for the middle class.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat means creating good-paying, stable jobs. It means new incentives to encourage entrepreneurs and support small businesses. It means expanding\u00a0access to health care\u00a0and creating the clean energy jobs of the future. And it means making a quality education a right and not a privilege,\u201d Udall said. \u201cThe plans President Obama outlined tonight will help us build upon this foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to focusing on our economic recovery, keeping America safe from those who would do us harm remains a\u00a0top priority \u2013 one\u00a0that was underscored by last month\u2019s Christmas Day bombing attempt. While we still face challenges in this regard, I was pleased to hear President Obama again highlight his commitment to preserving our strong national security while improving our standing around the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich<\/a>, D-N.M.<\/h3>\n

\u201cDespite the partisanship we\u2019ve seen,\u00a0President Obama\u00a0appealed to us as Americans. He made clear that we must continue to support small businesses and provide much needed relief to working families,\u201d Heinrich said. \u201cI am committed to doing all that I can to strengthen our economy, reduce the deficit, and create good jobs in New Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n<\/p><\/div>\n

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n<\/a>, D-N.M.<\/h3>\n

\u201cOver the past year, I have traveled across our state and have witnessed first-hand both the great spirit of New Mexicans and the challenges that so many are facing in a difficult economic climate,\u201d he said. \u201cTonight, President Obama spoke of this spirit and these challenges. In the days ahead, we have the opportunity to renew our efforts to stand up for families, our communities, and our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past year in Congress, we have made progress towards reversing eight years of putting banks and corporations ahead of people and have begun putting our families first. We\u2019ve passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help get our economy back on track and to make broad investments in our future,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve given 95 percent of working families a tax cut and also cut taxes for small businesses, homebuyers, college students and parents. We\u2019ve taken on\u00a0credit card companies\u00a0by enacting a Credit Cardholders\u2019\u00a0Bill of Rights\u00a0to protect New Mexican families from abusive and predatory credit practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd in the House, we\u2019ve passed reforms to protect individuals from unfair\u00a0insurance company practices\u00a0such as denials based on\u00a0pre-existing conditions\u00a0and removed the anti-trust exemptions that\u00a0insurance companies\u00a0have enjoyed for too long,\u201d Luj\u00e1n said. \u201cWe\u2019ve also passed legislation to create clean energy jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and save billions of dollars to consumers over the long term.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the year ahead, I hope to join with the president and my colleagues on the many important issues that remain to be addressed. We must continue to help create more American jobs by enacting the Jobs for Main Street Act that we passed in the House at the end of last year,\u201d he said. \u201cWe must ensure that credit will be extended to small businesses and entrepreneurs to create jobs, put people back to work and rebuild our economy. We must get to the president the House\u2019s plan to finally hold Wall Street accountable for engaging in the risky financial practices that jeopardized so many\u00a0American families\u00a0and lead to the bailout of the \u2018too big to fail\u2019 banks. We must make legislation I cosponsored, PAYGO, or pay-as-you-go, into law to bring needed fiscal responsibility to Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the conversations I\u2019ve had across the 3rd\u00a0District\u2014with school teachers and doctors, seniors and those on active duty and our veterans\u2014I know we share a commitment to renewing the promise of the American economy,\u201d Luj\u00e1n said. \u201cBy providing the necessary investments we need to create new jobs and move our economy forward, we can empower\u00a0New Mexico\u00a0to recover from these difficult times. I am encouraged by the president\u2019s vision tonight and I look forward to working with him, my colleagues, and fellow New Mexicans to address the challenges that lie ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Steve Pearce<\/p><\/div>\n

Republican congressional candidate\u00a0Steve Pearce<\/a><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe president proposed many spending programs now and savings in the future. This is the cycle that has created the deficit,\u201d Pearce said. \u201cWe need to cut spending, not just slow it. The president must drastically change the path this Congress is going down in order to put our country back on the right track for economic stability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid led Democrats in Congress have spent recklessly. This Congress passed a trillion dollar stimulus that failed. Passed job killing cap and trade legislation, and most recently passed a billion dollar government takeover of health care. These are all bad policies that have moved the American economy backwards and have resulted in more jobs lost,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig spending and an over-reaching government will not boost the economy or create jobs. We have a national debt of over $13 trillion. Unemployment nationwide is over 10 percent, and in some areas of New Mexico close to 20 percent,\u201d Pearce said. \u201cAmericans are struggling. Congress needs to enact policies that encourage American entrepreneurship and innovation, rebuild the manufacturing and agriculture industries, and grow our economy with bottom up policies to create jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get our priorities in order. The focus must remain on creating jobs and tackling the deficit. Americans are watching to see that Congress acts responsibly\u00a0and does not once again hijack the needs of America in favor the special interests,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Republican congressional candidate\u00a0Adam Kokesh<\/a><\/h3>\n

\u201cAmericans who voted for change in 2008 should feel deeply betrayed. Obama is taking the worst of Bush\u2019s policies and greatly expanding them,\u201d he said. \u201cIf Bush\u2019s policies got us into this economic mess, we need a fundamental change in the\u00a0role of government\u00a0in regards to the economy. More of the same will lead to even greater job losses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs dissatisfaction with the results grows, voters will be looking to the\u00a0GOP\u00a0for something new,\u201d Kokesh said. \u201cThis campaign is in a position to capture this sentiment with our message of real change by reexamining the role of government and asserting the primacy of\u00a0inalienable human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Javier Gonzales<\/p><\/div>\n

Democratic Party of New Mexico <\/a>Chairman Javier Gonzales<\/h3>\n

\u201cTonight, New Mexicans looked to the president to lay out a bold vision to help our families, create jobs and end the partisanship that has dominated Washington \u2013 and the president has succeeded on each count,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president\u2019s plans include supporting New Mexicans by reducing costs of higher education, tax breaks for small businesses and supporting community banks that will help working families. And while we still have a long road ahead of us, we have made significant progress in the last year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder President Obama\u2019s leadership, great measures have been taken to strengthen our economy. We passed the\u00a0Lilly Ledbetter\u00a0Act, guaranteeing women equal pay for equal work. We have expanded health care to an additional four million children under the\u00a0State Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program\u00a0(SCHIP),\u201d Gonzales said. \u201cWe passed the Recovery Act, which saved and created millions of jobs across the country and right here in New Mexico. And we have made tremendous progress towards passing meaningful\u00a0health insurance reform\u00a0\u2013 a fight that is not finished.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president offered a hand of bipartisanship to congressional Republicans who, we hoped after a year of obstruction and hyper-partisanship, would have accepted it and pledged to work with Democrats to help turn our economy around,\u201d he said. \u201cUnfortunately, the\u00a0Republican Party\u2019s response echoed the same old divisive attacks and offered no real vision or solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president passionately told us tonight he \u2018won\u2019t quit\u2019 on the\u00a0American people\u00a0or the challenges we face. Inheriting the worst economy since the\u00a0Great Depression, and one that was losing between 700,000 and 800,000 jobs a month, he reminded us that change is not only difficult but sometimes it doesn\u2019t come quickly enough,\u201d Gonzales said. \u201cI\u2019m confident that under the president\u2019s leadership, we will continue to move our economy forward and secure a better future for\u00a0New Mexico families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Republican Party of New Mexico<\/a> Chairman Harvey Yates Jr.<\/h3>\n

\u201cOn the heels of a Republican victory last week in\u00a0Massachusetts, tonight, President Obama tried to convince the\u00a0American people\u00a0that he shares their frustration concerning the current economic challenges they are facing,\u201d Yates said. \u201cHowever, what Mr. Obama fails to realize is that much of the anger felt by Americans is in\u00a0direct response\u00a0to the string of economically flawed policies championed by his administration and the Democrat-controlled Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Obama can always be counted on to deliver a good speech, noticeably absent from tonight\u2019s performance was a concrete strategy to put Americans back to work,\u201d he said. \u201cSince Obama took office, New Mexico\u00a0has lost over 26,000 jobs \u2013 23,000 of which were lost after the president and Congress experimented with $787\u00a0billion of taxpayer money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe American people\u00a0won\u2019t be fooled. They recognize that while Mr. Obama continues to preach economic recovery, thus far, the hallmark of his administration has been to advance a costly liberal agenda which has resulted in unsustainable spending and expensive initiatives like cap-and-trade and government-run health care,\u201d Yates said. \u201cThis just doesn\u2019t bode well with\u00a0New Mexico families\u00a0who have had to cut back their own spending to weather these difficult\u00a0economic times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Update, 3:45 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From U.S. Rep. Harry Teague<\/a>, D-N.M.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince coming to Congress, I\u2019ve traveled every corner of my district and I\u2019ve visited with thousands of constituents. And what I\u2019ve found is that we share many of the same concerns, chief among them are the health of our economy, our energy future, and our nation\u2019s debt. Tonight, we heard the president discuss many of these concerns, and I was encouraged to see a focus on the middle class, small businesses, and it\u2019s about time we stop giving tax cuts to companies that send job overseas and start rewarding those that are creating jobs here and that are rebuilding our economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI commend the president for offering the unprecedented proposal to freeze\u00a0government spending\u00a0without punishing our troops or our veterans. The debt is not a Republican or Democrat problem, it is our nation\u2019s problem and it is about time Washington heard the calls to get the debt under control. That\u2019s also why I welcome the creation of a\u00a0bipartisan task force\u00a0to find a long term solution for our nation\u2019s debt \u2013 we have waited too long to get this done.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president’s focus on the\u00a0new energy economy\u00a0will be a key piece of putting America back to work, and I was especially pleased to hear him mention the need for expanded\u00a0domestic production\u00a0of oil and gas, and a commitment to clean\u00a0nuclear power plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past year we have taken important steps to bring our economy back from the brink of collapse, but we have a long way to go. Moving forward, I am committed to fighting for the people of my district as I always have.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UPDATED: Here are the statements I have received about President Barack Obama\u2019s State of the Union address from New Mexico politicians and candidates for office.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,1],"tags":[116],"class_list":["post-12163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","category-uncategorized","tag-washington"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12163"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12163\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}