Energy Votes Provide Strong Indications of Why Unemployment is a Huge Problem

New Mexico voters got another strong indication of how its elected officials view job creation policies in Washington late this week. Congressman Steve Pearce voted in favor of H.R. 2273, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act on Friday while his counterparts, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan voted against it. “This legislation protects jobs in the coal ash industry, which includes mining, power plant and cement sectors,” said Pearce. “While this bill devolves power to the states in permitting processes for the coal residual permit program, it does force all facilities to comply with the criteria of the Waste Disposal Act for the protection of groundwater and other valuable resources.”

“Unnecessary regulations kill jobs,” Pearce continued. “The EPA itself stated that coal residuals, or coal ash, should not be regulated as a hazardous material on two separate occasions. Coal ash regulations directly affect employees in throughout New Mexico, especially in the two coal fired power plants at Four Corners and Prewitt, which is near Grants. By allowing states to regulate permits for coal combustion residuals, we will save 300,000 jobs nationally. We can have economic growth and a clean environment.”

Four Corners Power Plant

Presumably, both Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan voted against the job saving legislation that could have prevented higher unemployment rates and rising electricity rates in the state due to environmentalist influences. Heinrich, who is seeking the Senate seat held by Jeff Bingaman has long be opposed to coal as a source of energy, preferring the federal government direct taxpayer investments in solar projects. Lujan, who met recently with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Santa Fe, also prefers additional federal controls that are likely to lead to further weakening of the prospects for continued employment at the Four Corners Power Plants near Farmington and at Prewitt near Grants.

Energy Votes Provide Strong Indications of Why Unemployment is a Huge Problem