Washington, DC (October 4, 2011) Today, Congressman Steve Pearce issued the following statement regarding the Center for Biological Diversity’s threatened lawsuit against Catron County, New Mexico: “I make no apologies for representing the people of New Mexico, and working for their interests,” said Pearce. “My goals are jobs and commonsense management of our resources, and I will continue to fight for policies that will achieve these goals. Our local residents and elected officials have a right to make decisions regarding areas within their jurisdiction without the sword of litigation dangling over their heads,” Pearce continued.
“As it relates to Catron County, the Center for Biological Diversity’s (CBD) statement is ludicrous as usual, and the lawsuit threat is a prime example of their method of operation—manufacturing lawsuits at taxpayer expense in order to intimidate local people. These outside groups take local governments and the federal government to court on a constant basis, and as settlements and federal tax returns show, taxpayers are legally obligated to hand over millions of dollars to their pit bull lawyers. From 2000-2009, CBD filed 409 lawsuits in federal district courts and 165 appeals in federal appeals courts. In the last two years, they filed another 67 suits and 152 appeals. CBD is doing what they do best: cranking up their lawsuit factory to tie the hands of local residents and our community leaders to keep them from reaching proper solutions. As we saw in Otero County, bringing people together to voice their concerns is the most constructive way to solve our problems.”
Pearce: Center for Biological Diversity Uses Taxpayer Funds to Manufacture Lawsuits and Intimidate
by Michael Swickard - “There is a point when you cannot walk away, when you have to stand up straight and tall and mean the words you say. There is a point you must decide just do it ‘cause it is right.” Randy Travis - Governor Susana Martinez must stand up straight and tall and mean the words she says. New Mexico needs someone to do what is right despite the anger it may cause. In the first year of her first term, it is time for Governor Martinez to serve the people and not do politics as usual. She must be a point of light.What New Mexicans saw during the recent special session for redistricting of the New Mexico Legislature was totally unacceptable. The legislature once again met and intentionally did not reach a conclusion so they could pass their responsibility to the judiciary. There is never a time when one branch of state government is supposed to punt their responsibilities to another branch of the government. The Governor needs to do something difficult and do it because it is right and not back away even though it will infuriate the members of the legislature.She must not allow the legislators to do business as usual and then go home. They must be called back into session and kept in session until they act responsibly. They will resist and posture and blame. Eventually, though, when they realize the Governor will not back down they will do their duty. Read column
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