News New Mexico: 03/03/11

Government Funded Google Advertisement:"How to Start a Union"

From redstate.com -Presumably, the President realizes that unions cause long-term unemployment and, if his number one priority is job creation, one would think that he might consider sending a note over to the union-controlled National Labor Relations Board and tell them to stop trying to cripple companies. Especially since the NLRB has become the de-facto union organizing committee for union bosses and is intent on cramming unions down companies’ throats by any means necessary. In addition, since the national debt is so high and cutting spending is allegedly a priority, one could also expect the President to tell his union-controlled NLRB to stop spending tax-payers’ money to advertise for unions. More News New Mexico

Union Heads Make Six Figures

From politico.com- Leaders earned between $173,000 and $618,000 at major unions, the Center for Public Integrity found in examining 2009 tax records, with some groups paying dozens of employees in the six figures. At the three major unions , which together represent more than 5.6 million public workers, presidents’ salaries in 2009 ranged between $400,000 and $500,000. Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, was paid $479,328 in salary and benefits in 2009. He was one of 10 employees of the 1.5 million-member union who made more than $200,000 that year. More News New Mexico

Pearce Helps Small Business

Steve Pearce

Newsnm note- (Spence) We heard lots of talk from many elected officials about the asinine provision in Obamacare that would have needlessly required billions of 1099's to be issued by small businesses. Talk is cheap. Nowhere was there a proposal in the form of LEGISLATION to fix the problem. Small business owes a debt of gratitude to New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce. While hundreds of elected officials dithered he did something.

Washington, D.C. (March 3, 2011) Today, the House passed the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, which will save time, money and cost for small businesses, allowing them to create jobs and spur economic growth. President Obama’s health care law dramatically expanded tax information reporting requirements. The new requirements include mandates that a Form 1099 be filed for any payments to corporations and for any payments for property that exceed $600 per year per payee.

This places an overwhelming burden on small business owners, who must spend time, money, and resources on complying with more regulations instead of creating jobs and bolstering the economy. Today’s bill, which Rep. Pearce cosponsored, is expected to reduce taxes by $19.7 billion dollars, save $20 billion in federal spending in its first 10 years, and reduce the deficit by $166 million in the same period. These savings will directly result in more jobs and a stronger America. Pearce, a former small business owner, has consistently advocated for small business as the backbone of America’s economy, and has made job growth his top priority in Congress.

Border Agent Terry Was Forced to Use Beanbags

Brian Terry

From gatewaypundit.com- The documents say the group of illegal border entrants refused commands to drop their weapons after agents confronted them at about 11:15 p.m. Two agents fired beanbags at the migrants, who responded with gunfire. Two agents returned fire, one with a long gun and one with a pistol, but Terry was mortally wounded in the gunfight. Border Patrol officials declined to answer questions about protocol for use of force, citing the ongoing investigation. But Terry’s brother, Kent Terry, said the other agents who were there that night told him that they were instructed to use the non-lethal beanbags first. It’s a policy that doesn’t make sense to Kent Terry. More News New Mexico

Giving Welfare to Film Industries

From latimes.com - If you want to understand why it's so hard for governments, both federal and state, to put their accounts in order, consider the recent comments of Bill Richardson, former nearly everything including governor of New Mexico and a semi-serious candidate for president. Richardson might well be a candidate for one of the "respected elder statesman" seats that come open every generation (sort of an American version of the British House of Lords, only chosen by the media instead of the government), bringing with them memberships of prestigious commissions, offers of ambassadorships, opportunities to express concern on "Charlie Rose" or the PBS "NewsHour" shows (if those institutions manage to survive the current Republican onslaught) and so on. All with no obligation to campaign or raise money. More News New Mexico

Udall Pledges to Fight for Public Broadcasting

Senator Tom Udall

From thehill.com - Sen. Tom Udall promised to stick up for federally funded media as Republicans push for deep cuts to public radio and television. During a speech at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference Tuesday, Udall said he will "fight for this critical funding as the budget process continues." Proposed cuts could seriously damage some stations, according to Udall.
"Federal support for these stations can be 10 percent or more of their budget. These cuts would be disastrous for public broadcasting," he said. More News New Mexico

Bingaman Clashes with Republicans on Oil Fees

Jeff Bingaman

From thehill.com -Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is backing an Interior Department proposal to raise fees on offshore oil-and-gas companies to help fund expanded oversight in the wake of the BP disaster. Bingaman said at a hearing on Interior’s budget plan that last year’s oil spill was a “dramatic reminder” of the importance of effective oversight. “I strongly support the president’s budget request for additional funding for these purposes, including his request for increased fees from industry to fund inspections of offshore operations,” Bingaman said Wednesday. The White House’s fiscal year 2012 plan would boost fees in addition to repealing billions of dollars in industry tax incentives. But the oil industry and many Republicans say raising industry’s costs will slow down domestic development. More News New Mexico

Bill Richardson Named Harvard Fellow

Bill Richardson

From bostonherald.com -Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has been named a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. Richardson, also a former U.S. representative for New Mexico and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will serve his fellowship during the week of March 28. Institute Director Trey Grayson says Richardson’s extensive experience in leadership positions, including a stint as U.S. Energy Secretary, will create interest among students and faculty. More News New Mexico

Lujan Dictates Chaos Ensues

It is hard to keep up with everything House Speaker Ben Lujan is doing to ignore the will of the people, including the things he is doing to members of his own party. Yesterday, after finishing a column outlining Lujan's engineering of a debate-killing charade on the House budget we called it a night. And early Thursday morning when the News New Mexico email box was opened it was literally flooded with complaints from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The rubbing point? Lujan's unilateral decision to adjourn the House of Representatives last night. Capitol Report New Mexico's Rob Nikolewski asked a simple question in a column over the weekend that bears repeating......."What the heck is going on in the Roundhouse." Indeed.

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