Recovery Act - one year later

Last week, while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was proposing to trim back a proposed jobs bill from $85 billion to $15 billion over 10 years, U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich was home – in his 1st Congressional District — touring a low-income housing construction site that will create or retain 100 jobs for some workers who have been collecting unemployment for months.

Heinrich’s visit to NewLife Homes, an affordable housing project, which will produce 48 units for individuals with mental and physical disabilities, some of whom are transitioning out of homelessness, highlighted how money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being used in New Mexico. ARRA was signed one year ago this week — on February 17, 2009.

Heinrich told us that he supports a provision in the jobs bill that would offer tax credits to employers who hire workers who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. He says it could prompt businesses to move forward with hiring.

Business investment will improve economy

Heinrich’s Republican challenger, Jon Barela, is also talking about jobs.

He is an advocate for creating a better regulatory environment for industry and argues against tax increases.

“During these tough and uncertain economic times the last thing Congress needs to do is place more burden on individuals and small businesses,” Barela said. “Allowing individuals and small businesses to keep more of their money will allow them the opportunity to invest and spend and improve the current economic downturn.”

Barela contends that "increased taxes will compel small businesses to reduce their workforce when our nation is already experiencing high rates of unemployment.”

“Conversely, providing small businesses tax incentives will allow them to increase their workforce,” Barela said.

Jobs: Issue #1

With congressional mid-term elections this fall, deal making across party lines looks to be difficult on many issues, but it appears a jobs bill could be an exception, given the urgency of unemployment as a voter concern.

Heinrich said the final jobs bill should focus on “the most important priorities – creating good-paying jobs, helping the middle class and making targeted, responsible investments in our future.”

“It must demand transparency and accountability to guarantee all taxpayer money is used properly,” Heinrich said. “By focusing on job creation, energy independent and middle-class tax relief, we can reenergize our economy and make it work for everyone.”

Swinging a hammer again

Now, with the help of ARRA funds, Julian Gomez, a 36-year veteran of the construction industry, is wearing his hard hat again.

He was a victim of the current economic downturn when Gerald Martin Construction company was told the NewLife Homes project had been put on hold.

Now the general contractor is re-hiring, and Gomez told us that he is ready to swing his hammer again.



Now Gomez said he is hearing there is “a lot of working coming up,” and he hopes the worst is behind him.

Barela now a 'Contender'

The National Republican Congressional Committee has advanced 1st Congressional Republican candidate Jon Barela to ’Contender’ status in its 2010 Young Guns program, a three-step program dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger GOP candidates nationwide.

“I’m proud of the work being done by our staff and volunteers, as we offer New Mexicans a clear alternative to the high-tax, high-spend status quo being offered by Martin Heinrich and Nancy Pelosi in Washington,” Barela said in a Monday news release. “I’m honored and excited to join the ‘Contender’ ranks in the NRCC Young Guns program.”

NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions said in a news release that Barela “has already proven that he will be a formidable candidate by meeting the Young Guns program’s rigorous goals and is well on his way to building a winning campaign that will put this seat back in the Republican column.”

“Jon is part of a strong and growing pool of candidates who are frustrated with the Democrat majority’s big-government ways and aren’t willing to stand by any longer,” Sessions said. “His campaign has put Martin Heinrich on notice that Americans are ready to turn the page on the failed experiment known as the Obama-Pelosi agenda.”

Former 2nd Congressional District Rep. Steve Pearce, who is trying to retake the seat from Democratic Rep. Harry Teague, was already listed as a contender in the NRCC program. Neither Republican 3rd Congressional District primary candidate, Tom Mullins nor Adam Kokesh, are in NRCC's program.

Last month, we caught up with Barela at an Albuquerque Tea Party sponsored candidate “Meet and Greet” event in Rio Rancho.

He told nearly 400 people, who attended the event, that “there is going to be a stark difference” between him and incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich.



Recorded on January 16, 2009.

Heinrich's raises $267k in fourth quarter, Barela $113k

Corrected numbers

Democrat Martin Heinrich raised $267,372.63 in the final quarter of 2009. The total reflects $234,372.62 raised from individuals and political actions committees, plus $33,000 transferred to his campaign from other authorized committees.

The committee transfers include money split between Heinrich and Rep. Harry Teague from a fundraising trip made by Vice President Joe Biden, and a separate event with Rep. Polis in Colorado.

Heinrich received over $114,000 from PACS, with the balance from individual contributors.

He spent $80,454.83 during the reporting period, according to his report.

To date in the election cycle, Heinrich has raised $1.084 million, and he ended 2009 with $834,633.23 on hand.

Jon Barela, the Republican seeking to unseat Heinrich, raised $ 113,070 – with $3,500 coming from PACs – and spent $39,634.59, according to his report. To date in the election cycle, he’s raised $293,909.77, and he ended 2009 with $215,185.70 on hand.

Barlea said in a news release that he's pleased he collected more money from individual donors than his opponent in the last cycle and believes his campaign is "building momentum."

“We are thrilled to have the backing of such a large number of New Mexicans,” remarked Barela. “The vast majority of our contributions came from people who looked at the incumbent, compared my vision and background to his, and chose to support our campaign."

This report was corrected and includes the accurate numbers for the 2009 Year End reports.

DC Falls in Love with New Mexico Politicans

While freshman U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich is topping The Hill's 50 Most Beautiful People list two other New Mexican's have been selected as "Top Young Guns" by the NRCC.

Today in Washington, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) included two New Mexico Republicans— former Congressman Steve Pearce (CD2) and Albuquerque lawyer and businessman Jon Barela (CD1)—among the first 13 candidates in its New Young Guns program.

According to the NRCC, candidates included in the new program “must demonstrate a base of support, develop a media messaging plan for the race and show they are capable of raising enough money to get their message out.”

But they'll need silver bullets to unseat the freshman representatives in New Mexico's 1st and 2nd congressional districts in next year's congressional races.

Matt Reichbach over at NMFBIHOP reports:

Just four of the 24 Republican challengers in the NRCC's Young Guns program in 2008 successfully won office.

Barela Woos District's Tea Ralliers with "No New Tax" Pledge

Jon Barela (Right) with former State GOP Chairman Allen Weh

On Monday, Republican Jon Barela, who wants to unseat first-term Representative Martin Heinrich (D-NM1), signed the Americans for Tax Reform’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge.”

Barela's pledge means he will oppose all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals or businesses. He said he'll also oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

Barela announced his pledge on his Facebook page. If he's looking to pick up ABQ Tea Rally supporters this might be a way to attract their support and early campaign contributions.

Barela who announced last month said:

Government spending is out of control and the money to fund that blank check in Washington is coming out of the paychecks of New Mexico workers and costing us jobs right here at home. Unlike the Washington politicians, I understand that small business, not big government, holds the key to job creation and increasing taxes is not the answer.

Since its rollout, with the endorsement of President Reagan in 1986, the pledge has become de rigueur for Republicans seeking office, and is a necessity for Democrats running in Republican districts.

Democrat Supporter May Be Stripped From State and County Party Position

Democrat Robert Aragon infuriated dems when he introduced Barela at his June 18th campaign announcement.

At the time Aragon said:

I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I’m a New Mexican first. I’m enthusiastically supporting Jon Barela because I know he’s one of us and he’ll always put New Mexico first, and that’s more important than partisan politics.

We've learned Bernalillo County Democrats will have a meeting on July 23rd at 7pm and are considering stripping Aragon from his post as a ward chair and from his County Central Committee status for those comments and more that he was recorded making in this video.



Democrat Bernalillo County Chair Ana Canales confirmed she has received formal complaints from the membership regarding Aragon's status as a ward chair. Democrats have cited rules in section 12-7 of the state party rules as a reason they're considering the removal. Aragon has said he will fight the action with his attorneys.

Photo Credit: Mark Bralley

Barela Announces G.O.P Primary Bid

Albuquerque businessman and former chairman of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Jon Barela announced he'll campaign for the 1st Congressional District bid in the republican primary next year. He made his announcement this morning at DRB Electric company on 2nd Street in Albuquerque's South Valley.

Barela, a former APS Board member, and GOP Party official, is the first candidate to announce he'll try to oust first-term Representative Martin Heinrich, who easily captured the seat in 2008.

Fellow Repbulican, State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones, had been considering the race, but is now leaning toward a 2010 gubernatorial bid.

UPDATED @ 5pm

At the announcement, Barlea said he's running for Congress because government spending is out of control.

The money to fund that blank check in Washington is coming out of the paychecks of New Mexico workers and costing us jobs right here at home Unchecked spending in Congress needs to stop.

Barela acknowledged that this will be a tough race, but believes his deep roots in the community will allow him to earn the crossover votes necessary to win this district. Underscoring that point, Barela was introduced at his announcement by a current Democratic ward chairman from the South Valley and former State Representative Robert Aragon. Aragon is also a current member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

In a campaign news release Aragon commented:

I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I’m a New Mexican first. I’m enthusiastically supporting Jon Barela, because I know he’s one of us and he’ll always put New Mexico first. And that’s more important than partisan politics.

Barela File Photo: Mark Bralley

White Will Shun County GOP Party!

Congressional Candidate Darren White, who's first congressional district covers all of Bernalillo County, says he won't have anything to do with the Bernalillo County Republican Party until Chairman Fernando C. de Baca either quits or is removed from office because of remarks the 70-year-old republican made to two BBC reporters goes against "the grain" of everything he believes.

White was reacting to a decision earlier in the day by the Bernco GOP's Executive Board to give C. de Baca an unanimous vote of confidence, and a the posting of a KSFR-FM Radio report. In the report C. de Baca is heard stating:

I feel strongly that Hispanics will not support, in my generation and the generation around my age, are not going to support the Democratic candidate for president primarily because there is a strong feeling that African Americans during the civil rights movement took advantage, full advantage, of all the benefits and programs that the government offered, that were supposed to be offered to all minorities. But we were left behind, we were left sucking air, and we resented that ever since the 60s, and I don’t see how a black president is going to change that.

"His words spoke loud and clear," White said. "He [C. de Baca] injected race into this campaign, and his words were hurtful and igorant, and they can't be tolerated by anyone. I'm sure he'd put them back if he could, but it's too late."

White told The Word he realized it's possible that his decision might cost him votes, but said, "I've taken on the Governor [Gary Johnson] before, because I disagreed with his stance on the legalization of drugs. I will take on my party chairman if I feel that he's wrong."

White believes, "the only way this can end is if C. de Baca steps down and puts his selfishness and pride aside.

Listen to the complete interview with White here.



Meanwhile State Republican Party Chairman Allen Weh told reporters at a 4pm news conference, "this has become a side show."

Weh says C. de Baca's refusal to resign has become a distraction from important election issues. He also told reporters that the Bernalillo County Republican Party's Executive Board was only an advisory committe and doesn't have the authority to elect or remove a county chairman. Weh said that power belongs to the the county central committee, which is not scheduled to meet before the election.

"In the interim," Weh said, "C. de Baca does not speak for, nor does he have any official role or any capacity with any major campaigns underway in this state."

Weh told reporters he had hoped common sense would prevail in the matter, but following the Bernco Executive Board meeting that he has put together a small delegation of top officials to meet with the embattled chairman, and asked them to try to persuade him to resign.

On Saturday, C. de Baca told The Word that he would step aside if it was the right thing to do because he felt it was more important to keep the campaign moving forward, centered on the issues. But after deliberating his position with family, friends and other county republicans decided to speak privately with his boar d at Ladera this morning where he received their unanimous support.

Weh also told reporters he may have the authority to remove C. de Baca under "special circumstances," but was unclear what rule authorized that move.


Weh was joined at the new conference by the party's 1st Vice Chairman Jon Barela, Vickie Perea, Nina Martinez and GOP NM 2nd Vice Chair Chris Saucedo

Listen to Weh's news conference remarks here:




Photo Credit: MG Bralley