Economy

Making the Economy Work for New Mexicans Again
Under the Bush Administration, we have seen gas prices, food prices, health care costs, and the price of a college education increase dramatically. And who is bearing the brunt of all this? New Mexico’s middle class. We need change and we need it now. That’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate. We have to get back to doing what’s right for this country and what’s right for New Mexico.

Create the Jobs of the Future Here in New Mexico, Now
We need to work together to protect our federal jobs. We can start by building upon the critical national security role played by the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Sandia National Laboratories. We must also continue to expand the mission of New Mexico’s National Laboratories to create new jobs in the most pressing national security areas – counterterrorism and energy research.

Invest in Alternative Energy
I authored and led the effort to pass a bi-partisan initiative that requires electric utilities to produce 15% of their electricity from alternative energy sources. But that’s just a start. We need to increase investment in clean, alternative energies, like wind, solar, and geothermal power. I will continue to fight for more alternative energy funding in the U.S. Senate because doing so will help bring down electricity, gas, and food prices.

Make New Mexico the National Leader in the New Energy Economy
A critical component of the New Energy Economy will be a highly skilled workforce trained in new alternative energy technologies such as wind and solar. New Mexico can lead the nation in this industry. The Bush administration has slashed federal support for workforce development during a time when we need it most. Our universities and community colleges should be training more engineers, scientists and designers in these new alternative energy industries. As your Senator, I will fight to restore workforce development training funds so that New Mexico’s businesses and industries in these new alternative energy areas will be able to compete nationwide and keep jobs in, and bring jobs to, New Mexico.

Expand Educational Opportunities and National Service
Every New Mexico family knows that college tuition is becoming unaffordable for too many families. A good education is the key to finding and keeping good jobs. We need to give people the tools they need to start their own businesses, succeed, and stay here in New Mexico. I will work to expand college scholarship opportunities that will provide for two years of college for each year of national service. Scholarship recipients will be able to choose whether to serve in the military, in their local community, in a rural school, or in some other form of national service.

Fight for the Water New Mexico Businesses Need to Grow
New Mexico is blessed with an abundance of natural resources: beautiful scenery, fertile farms, wind and solar potential, bountiful deposits of natural gas, oil, and minerals. However, one natural resource threatens the growth of New Mexico businesses – water. By more carefully managing the water we have, we can boost economic growth while still supporting the current water demands of our cities, agricultural communities and industries. I will work in the U.S. Senate to ensure that New Mexico receives its fair share of the Colorado and Rio Grande river flows and additional federal support for needed water infrastructure, and I will work to protect water supplies for our farmers as pressure and demand grows for alternative uses.

Help New Mexico Small Businesses Save Energy and Money
One of the best ways to reduce global warming pollution, cut costs and save money right away is to install energy efficient lights and appliances, efficient heating and cooling systems, and water conserving devices in homes and office buildings. I will work to make sure that small businesses that invest in these “Green Building” technologies will be able to quickly deduct their expenses from their taxes. Accelerating the ability of small businesses to deduct their investments in Green Building technologies will save small businesses money while lowering their energy costs and carbon emissions at the same time.

Tax Incentives for Companies that Create Jobs in America
In the Senate, I will support the Patriot Employer Act to provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of workers in America and I will end the tax breaks for companies that outsource American jobs. These tax credits for job-creating businesses are particularly helpful for new alternative energy industries (such as wind, solar and geothermal).