Sanchez: Jobs and Lizards

We received a letter from Lt. Governor John Sanchez not long after his appearance on News New Mexico this week. We share it below: Jobs and Lizards by John Sanchez

John Sanchez

Jobs and the economy are the top priorities for New Mexicans. Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that the Fish and Wildlife Service will not take these priorities into consideration when deciding whether or not the Sagebrush Sand Dune Lizard is added to the Endangered Species List. New Mexico’s oil and gas industry is at stake. Tens of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly related to energy, as well as millions of barrels of oil and tens of millions of cubic feet of natural gas that our country vitally needs are produced right here in New Mexico. Our country needs this energy now more than ever, as we watch gasoline prices top $4.00 per gallon.

Making these decisions without counting the cost of lost jobs and revenues is not only wrong, but in the middle of a recession it is absolutely unconscionable.

This is exactly what happened to the logging industry in northern New Mexico and our state is still suffering the effects of jobs lost to extraordinary federal regulation meant to protect the Spotted Owl. Job loss, overgrowth and out of control fires are the result. If you visit towns like Mora and Chama you will find once thriving communities now struggling, with families and businesses leaving because opportunity has dried up. We don’t want the same fate to come to Hobbs, Roswell and Artesia in southern New Mexico.

I support reasonable efforts to protect the lizard from harm, such as a voluntary agreement with the private sector, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies to craft agreements of conservancy that will also protect vital jobs that come from farming and ranching as well as the extractive industries in New Mexico. Federal and state governments must not overreach when the private sector can find solutions to protect and promote our social, environmental and economic concerns. I oppose policies that come into being without counting the cost to New Mexico jobs. Because of this, I do not support efforts to place the lizard on the federal endangered species list.

Sanchez: Jobs and Lizards