New Mexicans React to Obama Speech

Gary Johnson

We found initial reactions from three New Mexico elected officials (and former elected officials) on President Obama's "jobs" speech tonight. On Twitter former Governor Gary Johnson had this to say: Stop helping us to death.

Tom Udall

Senator Tom Udall had said this to his followers on Twitter: Great speech. It's time for Congress to stop bickering and; unite with a balanced - effective jobs bill to inspire confidence in the economy.

And we received this email from Steve Pearce's office: “The President has announced that he has a plan for stimulating the economy and creating jobs. Similar policies were put forth in 2009, and the price tag for economic stimulus was $1 trillion and rising unemployment rates. With 9.1 percent unemployment, I do not believe that America can stand another stimulus program. We need common-sense solutions. The House has been working since January to take action, sending numerous bills over to the Senate. No action has been taken on these bills.

Steve Pearce

The rhetoric needs to end, and the Senate and the President need to take action as well. This administration has claimed that over 13 million jobs would have been created through stimulus, green jobs, healthcare, and extending unemployment benefits, but these policies have instead resulted in the loss of 2.3 million jobs. We have seen too many failed policies and failed promises.”

John Sanchez

Lt. Governor John Sanchez had this comment: Entrepreneurs not Washington programs create jobs and grow the economy. When will the President and the Democrat controlled Senate realize this? The Obama administration is catering to his big labor buddies by mortgaging our kids’ future to save his reelection prospects. We need to cut the corporate tax rate so it is in line with the rest of the industrialized world, provide regulatory certainty for business so that they can make investments in the American economy, pass the pending free trade agreements, repeal Obamacare, stop job killing cap and trade policies and above all else get Washington out of the way of New Mexicans who are trying to create jobs.”

Hector Balderas

Hector Balderas said the following: Tonight, the President outlined a common-sense plan that will help create jobs in the short-term. At a time when too many New Mexicans are worried that the American Dream is becoming out-of-reach, getting our economy moving again must be Washington’s top priority. President Obama has the right approach and the initiatives he laid out will ignite our economy and put Americans back to work. Most importantly, President Obama’s plan will create jobs for the drivers of our economy, including small business owners, teachers, emergency first responders, veterans and construction workers. They will rebuild our infrastructure and our schools. By cutting taxes for small businesses and those that hire new workers, New Mexico’s small businesses will be able to hire and expand, ultimately providing hard working and middle class New Mexicans with more money. We can’t afford to continue giving additional tax breaks to big businesses. We need to close tax loopholes for large corporations and billionaires and invest in small businesses, the middle class, and the most vulnerable citizens. I applaud the President for taking that approach.

New Mexicans React to Obama Speech