|
 E-mail Story Print Friendly
Opinion editorials Handling of Pit Appeal Calls for a Time-Out |
Front Page 
opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Journal Endorsements for U.S. Congress
The 2008 election represented a wave that brought single-party control of the presidency and both houses of Congress to the Democrats, including a near super majority in the Senate.
This single-party grip on power has led to a major expansion of government and an explosion in spending. We have seen the adoption of ill-conceived health legislation that while correcting some abuses will drive up costs for most Americans and cut Medicare benefits for many. The government spent billions on stimulus accompanied by a promise that all that red ink would keep unemployment below 8 percent. It is now bumping 10 percent and the effective rate is much higher when the underemployed are added. We have seen bank bailouts and a breathtaking pace of home foreclosures. Despite a barrage of ads, candidates aren't running ads that say they were proud to cast key votes on health care, stimulus or cap and trade. There is a reason for that.
This election is about a clear choice on America's way forward. It's about whether you want a government to take care of you, or one that gives you the opportunity to take care of yourself and prosper through your own hard work.
If you believe more government programs, subsidies and regulations — all enacted with good intentions — are the way to lead us out of recession and make us competitive in a tough global economy, then the three Democrats seeking re-election to New Mexico's U.S. House of Representative seats would be the way to go.
If you think we need to reinvigorate the private sector, unleash America's entrepreneurial spirit and have a government that will take steps to make the Intels of the world feel this country is a good place to invest money, we think you will reach a different conclusion.
The Albuquerque Journal is recommending a second wave that helps restore balance to Congress and places an emphasis on people over government programs to right the ship.
District 1 — Jon Barela
Republican Jon Barela says tax and regulatory burdens have put "a wet blanket" on economic growth and job creation. The former Intel executive and Hispano Chamber of Commerce chairman knows something about business. He says Democratic policies dealing with the economy, the deficit and growing national debt are combining to quash job creation and threaten the standard of living for future generations. He would boost the economy by nurturing predictability for investors and job creators.
Barela, an attorney, opposes the new health care law, saying it also places new and burdensome taxes on individuals and business and makes small businesses fearful of investing and hiring.
Campaign attacks insinuating he favors privatizing Social Security and that he lobbied for the Chinese to send jobs offshore are baloney. There is zero evidence to support the first charge. His lobbying work was for Intel — which the attack ads don't bother to mention. Maybe that's because that's a name that equates to jobs right here in New Mexico.
The Journal endorses Jon Barela for the 1st Congressional District seat.
District 2 — Steve Pearce
Steve Pearce has spent the run-up to Election Day toting a chalk board to town hall meetings across the district he represented for three terms, discussing topics ranging from cap and trade to health care, and tracking how they "all come back to the economy."
The former U.S. representative says the next Congress "must do the right, appropriate thing in the next 12 months" to restore stability and confidence in the economy. He says that, in turn, will foster the private-sector economic growth the country needs.
The Hobbs Republican would vote against Congress' tradition of raiding the Social Security fund and allow individuals to invest their contributions in a limited, approved range of options, much like standard 401k plans. He would work to address the worst oversights of the health reform law, advocating for cost containment, fraud crackdowns, portability, health savings plans and tort reform.
The Journal recommends voters return Steve Pearce to the 2nd Congressional District seat.
District 3 — Tom Mullins
Farmington businessman Tom Mullins thinks government has grown too big and unresponsive to citizens. He wants to trim federal spending and believes stimulus money is just stimulating government, not creating jobs. Lowering taxes will help the private sector create jobs, he says.
Mullins opposes cap and trade and says environmental regulations should be balanced with economic analysis so businesses are not driven overseas. He supports a guest worker program that doesn't necessarily lead to citizenship and sanctions against employers of undocumented workers.
A petroleum engineer and owner of several small oilfield-related businesses, Mullins has made some gaffes during his first campaign, but they are based on inexperience and tossing out concepts as opposed to proposals he seriously advocates.
Mullins says government should not try to dictate all aspects of people's lives and favors repealing health reform but says revision is more likely. He supports tort reform, cost transparency and insurance portability.
The Journal endorses Republican Tom Mullins for the 3rd Congressional District seat.
You also can send comments via our comment form
|
|
